Beam failure recovery techniques

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A wireless device may identify a resource for wireless communication, the resource being in a first state where the resource is active for wireless communication and is inactive for a communication failure recovery procedure. The wireless device may determine that a communication failure has occurred during a first communication period. In some cases, one or more techniques for confirming the communication failure may be used to verify the failure. The wireless device may transition during a second communication period and based at least in part on the communication failure, the resource to a second state where the resource is inactive for wireless communication and is active for the communication failure recovery procedure. The wireless device may perform the communication failure recovery procedure using the resource transitioned to the second state.

CROSS REFERENCE

The present Application for Patent is a continuation of U.S. Pat.Application No. 17/950,891 by ZHOU et al., entitled “BEAM FAILURERECOVERY TECHNIQUES” filed Sep. 22, 2022, which claims priority to U.S.Pat. Application No. 16/860,043 by ZHOU et al., entitled “BEAM FAILURERECOVERY TECHNIQUES” filed Apr. 27, 2020, which claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Pat. Application No. 62/852,962 by ZHOU et al.,entitled “BEAM FAILURE RECOVERY TECHNIQUES,” filed May 24, 2019,assigned to the assignee hereof, and expressly incorporated by referenceherein.

INTRODUCTION

The following relates to wireless communications, and more specificallyto management of communications failures in beamformed wirelesstransmissions.

Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide varioustypes of communication content such as voice, video, packet data,messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be capable ofsupporting communication with multiple users by sharing the availablesystem resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of suchmultiple-access systems include fourth generation (4G) systems such asLong Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems, orLTE-A Pro systems, and fifth generation (5G) systems which may bereferred to as New Radio (NR) systems. These systems may employtechnologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time divisionmultiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA),orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), or discreteFourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing(DFT-S-OFDM). A wireless multiple-access communications system mayinclude a number of base stations or network access nodes, eachsimultaneously supporting communication for multiple communicationdevices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE).

SUMMARY

A method of wireless communication at a wireless device is described.The method may include configuring a wireless resource for a beamfailure recovery procedure. The wireless resource may be configured tohave a first state. The first state of the wireless resource may beactive for data communications and may be inactive for the beam failurerecovery procedure. The wireless resource may also be configured to havea second state. The second state wireless resource may be inactive fordata communications and may be active for the beam failure recoveryprocedure. The method may include determining that a communicationfailure has occurred during a first communication period. The method mayalso include transitioning, during a second communication period andbased on the communication failure, the wireless resource from the firststate to the second state. Additionally, the method may includeperforming the beam failure recovery procedure using the wirelessresource transitioned to the second state.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a wireless device isdescribed. The apparatus may include a processor and memory coupled withthe processor. The processor and memory may be configured to configure awireless resource for a beam failure recovery procedure. The wirelessresource is configured to have a first state where the wireless resourceis active for data communications and is inactive for the beam failurerecovery procedure. The wireless resource is further configured to havea second state where the wireless resource is inactive for datacommunications and is active for the beam failure recovery procedure.The processor and memory may be configured to determine that acommunication failure has occurred during a first communication period.The processor and memory may also be configured to transition, during asecond communication period and based on the communication failure, thewireless resource from the first state to the second state. Theprocessor and memory may be configured to perform the beam failurerecovery procedure using the wireless resource transitioned to thesecond state.

Another apparatus for wireless communication at a wireless device isdescribed. The apparatus may include means for configuring a wirelessresource for a beam failure recovery procedure, where the wirelessresource is configured to have a first state where the wireless resourceis active for data communications and is inactive for the beam failurerecovery procedure, and to have a second state where the wirelessresource is inactive for data communications and is active for the beamfailure recovery procedure, determining that a communication failure hasoccurred during a first communication period, transitioning, during asecond communication period and based on the communication failure, thewireless resource from the first state to the second state, andperforming the beam failure recovery procedure using the wirelessresource transitioned to the second state.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wirelesscommunication at a wireless device is described. The code may includeinstructions executable by a processor to configure a wireless resourcefor a beam failure recovery procedure, where the wireless resource isconfigured to have a first state where the wireless resource is activefor data communications and is inactive for the beam failure recoveryprocedure, and to have a second state where the wireless resource isinactive for data communications and is active for the beam failurerecovery procedure, determine that a communication failure has occurredduring a first communication period, transition, during a secondcommunication period and based on the communication failure, thewireless resource from the first state to the second state, and performthe beam failure recovery procedure using the wireless resourcetransitioned to the second state.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the configuring may includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for exchanging RRC messagesthat indicate the wireless resource that may be configured for the beamfailure recovery procedure.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the wireless resourceincludes a first downlink resource for transmission of one or morereference signals using one or more beams by a firsttransmission-reception point, and a first uplink resource fortransmission of a beam failure request by a UE.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the first downlink resourcemay be a common resource for transmission of the one or more referencesignals to a set of UEs, and the first uplink resource may be aUE-specific resource configured separately for each of the set of UEs.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the first uplink resourceincludes one or more of physical uplink control channel resources,physical random access channel resources, or combinations thereof.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the first uplink resourceincludes one or more of UE-specific time resources, frequency resources,spatial resources, code-domain resources, or combinations thereof.

A method of wireless communication at a wireless device is described.The method may include identifying a first wireless resource for anon-demand beam failure recovery procedure and periodic wirelessresources that are configured for use in other beam failure recoveryprocedures. The method may also include determining that a communicationfailure has occurred during a first communication period, anddetermining that a second communication period includes the periodicwireless resources. The method may also include selecting one of thefirst wireless resource or the periodic wireless resources forperforming the on-demand beam failure recovery procedure based on thecommunication failure and the second communication period including theperiodic wireless resources. Additionally, the method may includeperforming the on-demand beam failure recovery procedure using theselected wireless resources.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a wireless device isdescribed. The apparatus may include a processor and memory coupled withthe processor. The processor and memory may be configured to identify afirst wireless resource for an on-demand beam failure recovery procedureand periodic wireless resources that are configured for use in otherbeam failure recovery procedures. The processor and memory may beconfigured to determine that a communication failure has occurred duringa first communication period. In addition, the processor and memory maybe configured to determine that a second communication period includesthe periodic wireless resources. The processor and memory may be furtherconfigured to select one of the first wireless resource or the periodicwireless resources for performing the on-demand beam failure recoveryprocedure based on the communication failure and the secondcommunication period including the periodic wireless resources. Theprocessor and memory may also be configured to perform the on-demandbeam failure recovery procedure using the selected wireless resources.

Another apparatus for wireless communication at a wireless device isdescribed. The apparatus may include means for identifying a firstwireless resource for an on-demand beam failure recovery procedure andperiodic wireless resources that are configured for use in other beamfailure recovery procedures, determining that a communication failurehas occurred during a first communication period, determining that asecond communication period includes the periodic wireless resources,selecting one of the first wireless resource or the periodic wirelessresources for performing the on-demand beam failure recovery procedurebased on the communication failure and the second communication periodincluding the periodic wireless resources, and performing the on-demandbeam failure recovery procedure using the selected wireless resources.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wirelesscommunication at a wireless device is described. The code may includeinstructions executable by a processor to identify a first wirelessresource for an on-demand beam failure recovery procedure and periodicwireless resources that are configured for use in other beam failurerecovery procedures, determine that a communication failure has occurredduring a first communication period, determine that a secondcommunication period includes the periodic wireless resources, selectone of the first wireless resource or the periodic wireless resourcesfor performing the on-demand beam failure recovery procedure based onthe communication failure and the second communication period includingthe periodic wireless resources, and perform the on-demand beam failurerecovery procedure using the selected wireless resources.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the selecting may includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for identifying that theperiodic wireless resources may have priority over the first wirelessresource in the second communication period, and selecting the periodicwireless resources for performing the on-demand beam failure recoveryprocedure.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the priority of the firstwireless resource and the periodic wireless resources may be based on alatency target of communications during the first communication period.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the selecting may includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for determining thatcommunications during the first communication period may be low latencycommunications, and selecting the first wireless resource for performingthe on-demand beam failure recovery procedure based on thecommunications during the first communication period being low latencycommunications.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the selecting may includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for selecting the periodicwireless resources for performing the on-demand beam failure recoveryprocedure based on a timing of the periodic wireless resources beingwithin a time threshold of the first wireless resource.

A method of wireless communication at a wireless device is described.The method may include determining that an uplink communication has anuplink payload that is at or below a threshold payload size. Uplinkcommunications that have a payload size above the threshold payload sizemay have a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) appended to the uplink payload.Uplink communications that have a payload size at or below the thresholdpayload size may be transmitted without a CRC appended to the uplinkpayload. The method may also include configuring uplink communicationsto include acknowledgment feedback to include the CRC appended to theuplink payload irrespective of the uplink payload size. Additionally,the method may include processing an uplink communication based on theuplink communication including the acknowledgment feedback and the CRC.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a wireless device isdescribed. The apparatus may include a processor and memory coupled withthe processor. The processor and memory are configured to determine thatan uplink communication has an uplink payload that is at or below athreshold payload size. Uplink communications having a payload sizeabove the threshold payload size are to have a CRC appended to theuplink payload and uplink communications having a payload size at orbelow the threshold payload size are to be transmitted without a CRCappended to the uplink payload. The processor and memory are configuredto configure uplink communications to include acknowledgment feedback toinclude the CRC appended to the uplink payload irrespective of theuplink payload size. The processor and memory are also configured toprocess an uplink communication based on the uplink communicationincluding the acknowledgment feedback and the CRC.

Another apparatus for wireless communication at a wireless device isdescribed. The apparatus may include means for determining that anuplink communication has an uplink payload that is at or below athreshold payload size, where uplink communications having a payloadsize above the threshold payload size are to have a CRC appended to theuplink payload and uplink communications having a payload size at orbelow the threshold payload size are to be transmitted without a CRCappended to the uplink payload, configuring uplink communications toinclude acknowledgment feedback to include the CRC appended to theuplink payload irrespective of the uplink payload size, and processingan uplink communication based on the uplink communication including theacknowledgment feedback and the CRC.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wirelesscommunication at a wireless device is described. The code may includeinstructions executable by a processor to determine that an uplinkcommunication has an uplink payload that is at or below a thresholdpayload size, where uplink communications having a payload size abovethe threshold payload size are to have a CRC appended to the uplinkpayload and uplink communications having a payload size at or below thethreshold payload size are to be transmitted without a CRC appended tothe uplink payload, configure uplink communications to includeacknowledgment feedback to include the CRC appended to the uplinkpayload irrespective of the uplink payload size, and process an uplinkcommunication based on the uplink communication including theacknowledgment feedback and the CRC.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the configuring may includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for formatting theacknowledgment feedback for transmission with uplink shared channeldata, and where the acknowledgment feedback and the uplink sharedchannel data share a same CRC.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the acknowledgment feedbackmay be transmitted in a medium access control (MAC) control element withthe uplink shared channel data.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the acknowledgment feedbackmay be a one-bit indication of receipt of motion control data, and maybe transmitted with the uplink shared channel data.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the configuring may includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for configuring theacknowledgment feedback to exceed the threshold payload size.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the acknowledgment feedbackmay be padded with one or more bits to may have a payload size thatexceeds the threshold payload size.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the acknowledgment feedbackmay be encoded to may have a larger payload size than the thresholdpayload size.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the acknowledgment feedbackmay be repeated one or more times to provide a payload size that exceedsthe threshold payload size.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the configuring may includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for providing a dynamicindication that the acknowledgment feedback may be to include the CRCirrespective of the uplink payload size.

A method of wireless communication at a wireless device is described.The method may include configuring a wireless resource for a beamfailure recovery procedure. The method may also include determining,based on a failure to receive an acknowledgment feedback forcommunications in a first communication period, an initial failure statefor the first communication period. The method may also includeconfirming, based on a redundant indication of the acknowledgmentfeedback, a communication failure for the first communication period.Additionally, the method may include performing the beam failurerecovery procedure using the wireless resource.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a wireless device isdescribed. The apparatus may include a processor and memory coupled withthe processor. The processor and memory may be configured to configure awireless resource for a beam failure recovery procedure and determine,based on a failure to receive an acknowledgment feedback forcommunications in a first communication period, an initial failure statefor the first communication period. The processor and memory may beconfigured to confirm, based on a redundant indication of theacknowledgment feedback, a communication failure for the firstcommunication period. The processor and memory may also be configured toperform the beam failure recovery procedure using the wireless resource.

Another apparatus for wireless communication at a wireless device isdescribed. The apparatus may include means for configuring a wirelessresource for a beam failure recovery procedure, determining, based on afailure to receive an acknowledgment feedback for communications in afirst communication period, an initial failure state for the firstcommunication period, confirming, based on a redundant indication of theacknowledgment feedback, a communication failure for the firstcommunication period, and performing the beam failure recovery procedureusing the wireless resource.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wirelesscommunication at a wireless device is described. The code may includeinstructions executable by a processor to configure a wireless resourcefor a beam failure recovery procedure, determine, based on a failure toreceive an acknowledgment feedback for communications in a firstcommunication period, an initial failure state for the firstcommunication period, confirm, based on a redundant indication of theacknowledgment feedback, a communication failure for the firstcommunication period, and perform the beam failure recovery procedureusing the wireless resource.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the method may be performedat a UE, and where the confirming the communication failure may includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for monitoring a downlinkportion of the wireless resource for one or more reference signaltransmissions via one or more candidate beams to be selected by the UE,determining that the one or more reference signal transmissions may bepresent on the downlink portion of the wireless resource, selecting afirst candidate beam based on measurements of the one or more referencesignal transmissions, and transmitting a beam failure request on anuplink portion of the wireless resource that indicates the firstcandidate beam.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the one or more referencesignal transmissions may be identified based on a scrambling sequenceused to scramble the one or more reference signal transmissions.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for determining, for asubsequent communication period, the initial failure state for thesubsequent communication period, monitoring the downlink portion of thewireless resource associated with the subsequent communication periodfor the one or more reference signal transmissions, determining that theone or more reference signal transmissions may be absent on the downlinkportion of the wireless resource associated with the subsequentcommunication period, and discontinuing the beam failure recoveryprocedure based on the determining the absence of the one or morereference signal transmissions on the downlink portion of the wirelessresource associated with the subsequent communication period.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the method may be performedby a base station, and where the confirming the communication failuremay include operations, features, means, or instructions fortransmitting, in a downlink transmission to a UE, an indication that thebeam failure recovery procedure may be activated, and receiving, fromthe UE, a response to the indication that the beam failure recoveryprocedure may be activated.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the response from the UEindicates an acceptance of the beam failure recovery procedure beingactivated, and where the base station performs the beam failure recoveryprocedure based on the acceptance.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the response from the UEindicates that the UE declines the activation of the beam failurerecovery procedure and indicates successful communications during thefirst communication period, and where the base station discontinues thebeam failure recovery procedure based on the response from the UE.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the method may be performedby a UE, and where the confirming the communication failure may includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for receiving, in adownlink transmission from a base station, an indication that the beamfailure recovery procedure may be activated, and transmitting, to thebase station, a response to the indication that the beam failurerecovery procedure may be activated.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the response to the basestation indicates an acceptance of the beam failure recovery procedurebeing activated, and where the UE performs the beam failure recoveryprocedure based on the acceptance.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the response to the basestation indicates that the UE declines the activation of the beamfailure recovery procedure and indicates successful communicationsduring the first communication period, and where the UE discontinues thebeam failure recovery procedure based on the response to the basestation.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the method may be performedby a UE, and where the confirming the communication failure may includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for transmitting, to a basestation, a request to activate the beam failure recovery procedure,where the request indicates that a prior downlink transmission from thebase station was unsuccessfully received at the UE.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the method may be performedby a base station, and where the confirming the communication failuremay include operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving,from a UE, a request to activate the beam failure recovery procedure,where the request indicates that a prior downlink transmission from thebase station was unsuccessfully received at the UE.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the method may be performedby a UE, and where the confirming the communication failure may includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for polling a base stationthat was to receive an uplink communication from the UE during a priorcommunications period to determine whether the acknowledgment feedbackwas transmitted by the base station, receiving a response from the basestation that indicates whether the acknowledgment feedback wastransmitted by the base station, and continuing or discontinuing thebeam failure recovery procedure based on the response from the basestation.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the uplink communication fromthe UE during the prior communications period may be identified based ona sequence number of the uplink communication, an index of a resourceallocation of the uplink communication, or any combinations thereof.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the polling may betransmitted in uplink communications that carries uplink controlinformation or data traffic.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the polling transmitted usinga different beam or a different transmission-reception-point (TRP) thanused for an original transmission of the uplink communication.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the response from the basestation indicates that the acknowledgment feedback was previouslytransmitted, and indicates a time of an initial transmission of theacknowledgment feedback.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the uplink communicationincluded an activation indication, and where an activation time may bedetermined based on the time of the initial transmission of theacknowledgment feedback.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the method may be performedby a base station, and where the confirming the communication failuremay include operations, features, means, or instructions for polling aUE that was to receive a downlink communication from the base stationduring a prior communications period to determine whether theacknowledgment feedback was transmitted by the UE, receiving a responsefrom the UE that indicates whether the acknowledgment feedback wastransmitted by the UE, and continuing or discontinuing the beam failurerecovery procedure based on the response from the UE.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the downlink communicationfrom the base station during the prior communications period may beidentified based on a sequence number of the downlink communication, anindex of a resource allocation of the downlink communication, or anycombinations thereof.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the polling may betransmitted in downlink communications that carries downlink controlinformation or data traffic.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the polling transmitted usinga different beam or a different TRP than used for an originaltransmission of the downlink communication.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the response from the UEindicates that the acknowledgment feedback was previously transmitted,and indicates a time of an initial transmission of the acknowledgmentfeedback.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the downlink communicationincluded an activation indication, and where an activation time may bedetermined based on the time of the initial transmission of theacknowledgment feedback.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the confirming thecommunication failure may include operations, features, means, orinstructions for determining that a packet transmitted during the firstcommunication period may be a retransmission of a prior transmission ofthe packet, and that prior acknowledgment feedback was previouslytransmitted for the packet, and transmitting an indication of the prioracknowledgment feedback.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the prior transmission of thepacket included an activation indication, and where an activation timemay be determined based on a transmission time of the prioracknowledgment feedback.

A method of wireless communication at a wireless device is described.The method may include identifying a wireless resource for a beamfailure recovery procedure. A determination to initiate the beam failurerecovery procedure may be based on an acknowledgment feedback forcommunications in a first communication period. The method may alsoinclude determining that the first communication period has an absenceof data to be transmitted. The method may also include transmitting anindication that the first communication period has an absence of data tobe transmitted. Additionally, the method may include assuming, forpurposes of initiating the beam failure recovery procedure, that theacknowledgment feedback associated with the first communication periodindicates successful communications.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a wireless device isdescribed. The apparatus may include a processor and memory coupled withthe processor. The processor and memory may be configured to identify awireless resource for a beam failure recovery procedure, where adetermination to initiate the beam failure recovery procedure is basedon an acknowledgment feedback for communications in a firstcommunication period. The processor and memory may be configured todetermine that the first communication period has an absence of data tobe transmitted. The processor and memory may also be configured totransmit an indication that the first communication period has anabsence of data to be transmitted. The processor and memory may beconfigured to assume, for purposes of initiating the beam failurerecovery procedure, that the acknowledgment feedback associated with thefirst communication period indicates successful communications.

Another apparatus for wireless communication at a wireless device isdescribed. The apparatus may include means for identifying a wirelessresource for a beam failure recovery procedure, where a determination toinitiate the beam failure recovery procedure is based on anacknowledgment feedback for communications in a first communicationperiod, determining that the first communication period has an absenceof data to be transmitted, transmitting an indication that the firstcommunication period has an absence of data to be transmitted, andassuming, for purposes of initiating the beam failure recoveryprocedure, that the acknowledgment feedback associated with the firstcommunication period indicates successful communications.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wirelesscommunication at a wireless device is described. The code may includeinstructions executable by a processor to identify a wireless resourcefor a beam failure recovery procedure, where a determination to initiatethe beam failure recovery procedure is based on an acknowledgmentfeedback for communications in a first communication period, determinethat the first communication period has an absence of data to betransmitted, transmit an indication that the first communication periodhas an absence of data to be transmitted, and assume, for purposes ofinitiating the beam failure recovery procedure, that the acknowledgmentfeedback associated with the first communication period indicatessuccessful communications.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the indication that the firstcommunication period may have the absence of data to be transmitted maybe a physical or bit sequence.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the indication that the firstcommunication period may have the absence of data to be transmitted maybe a lack of any transmission in the first communication period.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the indication that the firstcommunication period may have the absence of data to be transmitted maybe provided before, during, or after the first communication period.

A method of wireless communication at a first wireless device isdescribed. The method may include establishing a wireless connection viaa first beam pair link with a second wireless device. The method mayalso include receiving an indication from the second wireless devicethat a first transmission in a first communications period istransmitted according to a first beam sweep pattern that uses one ormore beams. The method may also include receiving the first transmissionfrom the second wireless device in the first communications periodaccording to the first beam sweep pattern. Additionally, the method mayinclude transmitting a responsive transmission to the second wirelessdevice based on the first transmission. The responsive transmission maybe transmitted in the first communications period using a second beamsweep pattern that corresponds to the first beam sweep pattern.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a first wireless device isdescribed. The apparatus may include a processor and memory coupled withthe processor. The processor memory may be configured to establish awireless connection via a first beam pair link with a second wirelessdevice. The processor and memory may be configured to receive anindication from the second wireless device that a first transmission ina first communications period is transmitted according to a first beamsweep pattern that uses one or more beams. The processor and memory maybe further configured to receive the first transmission from the secondwireless device in the first communications period according to thefirst beam sweep pattern, and transmit a responsive transmission to thesecond wireless device based on the first transmission. The responsivetransmission is transmitted in the first communications period using asecond beam sweep pattern that corresponds to the first beam sweeppattern.

Another apparatus for wireless communication at a first wireless deviceis described. The apparatus may include means for establishing awireless connection via a first beam pair link with a second wirelessdevice, receiving an indication from the second wireless device that afirst transmission in a first communications period is transmittedaccording to a first beam sweep pattern that uses one or more beams,receiving the first transmission from the second wireless device in thefirst communications period according to the first beam sweep pattern,and transmitting a responsive transmission to the second wireless devicebased on the first transmission, where the responsive transmission istransmitted in the first communications period using a second beam sweeppattern that corresponds to the first beam sweep pattern.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wirelesscommunication at a first wireless device is described. The code mayinclude instructions executable by a processor to establish a wirelessconnection via a first beam pair link with a second wireless device,receive an indication from the second wireless device that a firsttransmission in a first communications period is transmitted accordingto a first beam sweep pattern that uses one or more beams, receive thefirst transmission from the second wireless device in the firstcommunications period according to the first beam sweep pattern, andtransmit a responsive transmission to the second wireless device basedon the first transmission, where the responsive transmission istransmitted in the first communications period using a second beam sweeppattern that corresponds to the first beam sweep pattern.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the first transmission may bea downlink transmission that includes downlink shared channelinformation, downlink control channel information, or combinationsthereof, and the responsive transmission may be an uplink transmissionthat includes uplink shared channel information, uplink control channelinformation, or combinations thereof.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the first beam sweep patternincludes a set of downlink beams, and the second beam sweep patternincludes a set of uplink beams having reciprocal beams to the set ofdownlink beams.

A method of wireless communication at a first wireless device isdescribed. The method may include establishing a wireless connection viaa first beam pair link with a second wireless device. The method mayalso include initiating, based on a communications failure with thesecond wireless device during a first communications period, a beamfailure recovery procedure during a second communications period. Themethod may also include communicating with the second wireless deviceusing a second beam pair link during the second communications period.The method may also include establishing, based on the beam failurerecovery procedure, an updated first beam pair link. Additionally, Themethod may include resuming communications, subsequent to the secondcommunications period, using the updated first beam pair link.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a first wireless device isdescribed. The apparatus may include a processor and memory coupled withthe processor. The processor and memory may be configured to establish awireless connection via a first beam pair link with a second wirelessdevice. The processor and memory may be configured to initiate, based ona communications failure with the second wireless device during a firstcommunications period, a beam failure recovery procedure during a secondcommunications period. The processor and memory may be configured tocommunicate with the second wireless device using a second beam pairlink during the second communications period. The processor memory maybe configured to establish, based on the beam failure recoveryprocedure, an updated first beam pair link. The processor and memory mayalso be configured to resume communications, subsequent to the secondcommunications period, using the updated first beam pair link.

Another apparatus for wireless communication at a first wireless deviceis described. The apparatus may include means for establishing awireless connection via a first beam pair link with a second wirelessdevice, initiating, based on a communications failure with the secondwireless device during a first communications period, a beam failurerecovery procedure during a second communications period, communicatingwith the second wireless device using a second beam pair link during thesecond communications period, establishing, based on the beam failurerecovery procedure, an updated first beam pair link, and resumingcommunications, subsequent to the second communications period, usingthe updated first beam pair link.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wirelesscommunication at a first wireless device is described. The code mayinclude instructions executable by a processor to establish a wirelessconnection via a first beam pair link with a second wireless device,initiate, based on a communications failure with the second wirelessdevice during a first communications period, a beam failure recoveryprocedure during a second communications period, communicate with thesecond wireless device using a second beam pair link during the secondcommunications period, establish, based on the beam failure recoveryprocedure, an updated first beam pair link, and resume communications,subsequent to the second communications period, using the updated firstbeam pair link.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the second beam pair linkuses a different TRP than the first beam pair link, and where thedifferent TRP and the second beam pair link may be preconfigured priorto the first communications period.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for transmitting redundantcommunications to the second wireless device using the first beam pairlink during the second communications period.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for releasing resourcesassociated with the second beam pair link responsive to establishing theupdated first beam pair link.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a system for wireless communicationsthat supports beam failure recovery techniques in accordance with one ormore aspects of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate examples of a wireless communications system thatsupports beam failure recovery techniques in accordance with one or moreaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a beam failure recovery configurationthat supports beam failure recovery techniques in accordance with one ormore aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a beam failure recovery configurationthat supports beam failure recovery techniques in accordance with one ormore aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a process flow that supports beamfailure recovery techniques in accordance with one or more aspects ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a process flow that supports beamfailure recovery techniques in accordance with one or more aspects ofthe present disclosure.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show block diagrams of devices that support beam failurerecovery techniques in accordance with one or more aspects of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a communications manager that supportsbeam failure recovery techniques in accordance with one or more aspectsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 shows a diagram of a system including a user equipment thatsupports beam failure recovery techniques in accordance with one or moreaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 shows a diagram of a system including a base station thatsupports beam failure recovery techniques in accordance with one or moreaspects of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 12 through 18 show flowcharts illustrating methods that supportbeam failure recovery techniques in accordance with one or more aspectsof the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Wireless communications systems may operate in millimeter wave (mmW)frequency ranges (e.g., 28 gigahertz (GHz), 40 GHz, 60 GHz, etc.).Wireless communications at these frequencies may be associated withincreased signal attenuation (e.g., path loss), which may be influencedby various factors, such as temperature, barometric pressure,diffraction, etc. As a result, signal processing techniques, such asbeamforming, may be used to coherently combine energy and overcome thepath losses at these frequencies. Due to the increased amount of pathloss in mmW communication systems, transmissions from the base stationand/or the UE may be beamformed. Moreover, a receiving device may usebeamforming techniques to configure antenna(s) and/or antenna array(s)such that transmissions are received in a directional manner. In somecases, a device may select an active beam for communicating with anetwork by selecting the strongest beam from among a number of candidatebeams.

In some aspects, wireless communications systems, such as thoseoperating in the mmW frequency ranges, may experience a loss ofcommunications due to a beam failure event and/or a radio link failureevent. For example, due to UE mobility, blocking, and the like, thecurrent transmit/receive beam pair link (BPL) for the UE and/or the basestation may become unavailable or otherwise unusable. When this occurs,a communication failure recovery procedure may be implemented in orderto identify and activate a new beam to use for communications. Sometechniques may include resources for the communication failure recoveryprocedure preconfigured for the UE and/or base station and beingavailable. For example, a certain set of resources may be configuredaccording to a periodic schedule (e.g., for every slot, every otherslot, etc.). In some cases, on-demand resources may be activated duringa communication failure, but are otherwise available for use duringnormal wireless communications. For example, a wireless device, whichmay be an example of a UE and/or a base station, may identify theresources that are configured in a first state. In some aspects, theresources configured in the first state may be active or otherwiseavailable to use for wireless communications between the base stationand UE, between base stations, and/or between UEs. However, theresources configured in the first state may be inactive to use for acommunication failure recovery procedure. The wireless device (e.g., thebase station and/or UE) may determine that a communication failure hasoccurred during a first communication period, for example, a beamfailure, a radio link failure, and the like. Accordingly, the wirelessdevice may transition the resources to a second state where theresources are inactive for wireless communications, but are active forthe communication failure recovery procedure. The wireless device mayuse the resources that have been transitioned to the second state toperform a communication failure recovery procedure.

In some cases, a base station may determine that on-demand resources areto be used for at least some communication failures (e.g., communicationfailures for certain UEs, communication failures for UEs that have lowlatency or high priority services enabled, etc.), and may pre-configureone or more UEs with on-demand failure recovery resources (which may bereferred to herein as beam failure recovery (BFR) resources) that may beactivated by the UE and base station in the event of a communicationsfailure. Such on-demand BFR resources may be activated upondetermination of a communications failure and may be used to establishan updated BPL to be used for subsequent communications. In some cases,one or more UEs may be configured with both on-demand BFR resources andperiodic BFR resources. In such cases, a priority rule may be utilizedto select which of the on-demand BFR resources or the periodic BFRresources are to be used for establishing the updated BPL.

In some cases, activation of the on-demand BFR resources for a BFRprocedure may be based on one or both of the UE or base station notreceiving an expected communication or receiving a feedback indicationthat indicates a particular communication was not successfully received.For example, a base station may transmit a downlink communication to aUE based on a downlink resource allocation. In cases where the UEreceives the downlink resource allocation and does not successfullydecode the downlink communication, the UE may transmit a negativeacknowledgment (NACK) to the base station to indicate that the downlinkcommunication failed. Further, in cases where the UE does notsuccessfully receive the downlink resource allocation, the UE may notmonitor for the downlink communication and may not transmit anyfeedback, which the base station may then consider to be acommunications failure. Further, in some cases the UE may successfullyreceive the downlink communication and transmit an acknowledgement (ACK)of successful receipt to the base station, but the base station may notreceive the ACK feedback or there may be a decoding error that resultsin the base station decoding an ACK when the UE transmitted a NACK.Similar situations may occur when the UE transmits uplink transmissionsto the base station.

Various aspects of the present disclosure further provide techniques forenhancing the robustness of beam failure recovery activations, to reducecases where one wireless device (e.g., a UE or base station) may assumea communications failure has occurred and the other wireless device doesnot think a communications failure has occurred. In some cases,reliability of acknowledgment feedback transmission may be enhanced byproviding that such acknowledgment feedback is transmitted with a CRCregardless of a payload size of the acknowledgment feedback, which mayreduce instances of a receiving device incorrectly decoding an ACK as aNACK. In some cases, reliability of BFR resource activations may beenhanced through one or more redundant indications that BFR resourcesare to be activated. Additionally or alternatively, in some cases ano-traffic indication may be provided by a transmitting device, which areceiving device may use to determine that a lack of transmission isintentional and not assume that there has been a communications failure.Various of the techniques provided herein, or combinations thereof, mayallow for more reliable and efficient communications due to reducednumbers of occasions where one wireless device of a BPL activates BFRresources to initiate the BFR procedure.

Further, in some cases, communications reliability may be enhancedthrough transmissions using multiple beams. In such cases, a basestation may, for example, transmit a downlink transmission using a beamsweeping pattern (e.g., all or a portion of a downlink transmissiontransmitted using multiple different beams), which may enhance thelikelihood of successful receipt at the UE. Further, in some cases theUE may transmit a responsive uplink communication using uplink beamsthat are quasi-co-located (QCLed) with the beams of the beam sweepingpattern used for the downlink transmission. In some cases, suchtechniques may be used based on one or more measurements that indicatean established BPL may be becoming unreliable, and beam sweeping usingmultiple beams that are relatively close to the established BPL mayenhance the likelihood of successful communications.

Additionally, in some cases, in order to reduce communications gaps inthe event that a communications failure occurs on a first BPL with afirst TRP, a UE may use a different TRP and/or BPL for communicationswhile a BFR procedure is being performed for the first BPL/TRP. In somecase, upon activation of the BFR resources, the UE and second TRP maytransmit communications in order to maintain connectivity for the UE.Once the BFR procedure is complete and an updated BPL is establishedbetween the UE and the first TRP, the resources associated with thesecond BPL/TRP may be released. In some cases, the UE and second TRP/BPLmay be preconfigured for such communications in the event of acommunications failure of the first BPL/TRP. In some cases, the secondTRP/BPL may be pre-configured based on signal quality measurements ofthe first TRP/BPL being below a threshold value, or based on periodictime intervals when communications failures historically occur (e.g.,due to periodic equipment movements in an industrial Internet of Things(IIoT) deployment).

Aspects of the disclosure are initially described in the context of awireless communications system. Aspects of the disclosure are furtherillustrated by and described with reference to apparatus diagrams,system diagrams, and flowcharts that relate to beam failure recoverytechniques.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communications system 100that supports beam failure recovery techniques in accordance with one ormore aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless communicationssystem 100 includes base stations 105, UEs 115, and a core network 130.In some examples, the wireless communications system 100 may be a LongTerm Evolution (LTE) network, an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network, an LTE-APro network, or a New Radio (NR) network. In some cases, wirelesscommunications system 100 may support enhanced broadband communications,ultra-reliable (e.g., mission critical) communications, low latencycommunications, or communications with low-cost and low-complexitydevices.

Base stations 105 may wirelessly communicate with UEs 115 via one ormore base station antennas. Base stations 105 described herein mayinclude or may be referred to by those skilled in the art as a basetransceiver station, a radio base station, an access point, a radiotransceiver, a NodeB, an eNodeB (eNB), a next-generation NodeB orgiga-NodeB (either of which may be referred to as a gNB), a Home NodeB,a Home eNodeB, or some other suitable terminology. Wirelesscommunications system 100 may include base stations 105 of differenttypes (e.g., macro or small cell base stations). The UEs 115 describedherein may be able to communicate with various types of base stations105 and network equipment including macro eNBs, small cell eNBs, gNBs,relay base stations, and the like.

Each base station 105 may be associated with a particular geographiccoverage area 110 in which communications with various UEs 115 issupported. Each base station 105 may provide communication coverage fora respective geographic coverage area 110 via communication links 125,and communication links 125 between a base station 105 and a UE 115 mayutilize one or more carriers. Communication links 125 shown in wirelesscommunications system 100 may include uplink transmissions from a UE 115to a base station 105, or downlink transmissions from a base station 105to a UE 115. Downlink transmissions may also be called forward linktransmissions while uplink transmissions may also be called reverse linktransmissions.

The geographic coverage area 110 for a base station 105 may be dividedinto sectors making up a portion of the geographic coverage area 110,and each sector may be associated with a cell. For example, each basestation 105 may provide communication coverage for a macro cell, a smallcell, a hot spot, or other types of cells, or various combinationsthereof. In some examples, a base station 105 may be movable andtherefore provide communication coverage for a moving geographiccoverage area 110. In some examples, different geographic coverage areas110 associated with different technologies may overlap, and overlappinggeographic coverage areas 110 associated with different technologies maybe supported by the same base station 105 or by different base stations105. The wireless communications system 100 may include, for example, aheterogeneous LTE/LTE-A/LTE-A Pro or NR network in which different typesof base stations 105 provide coverage for various geographic coverageareas 110.

The term “cell” refers to a logical communication entity used forcommunication with a base station 105 (e.g., over a carrier), and may beassociated with an identifier for distinguishing neighboring cells(e.g., a physical cell identifier (PCID), a virtual cell identifier(VCID)) operating via the same or a different carrier. In some examples,a carrier may support multiple cells, and different cells may beconfigured according to different protocol types (e.g., machine-typecommunication (MTC), narrowband Internet-of-Things (NB-IoT), enhancedmobile broadband (eMBB), or others) that may provide access fordifferent types of devices. In some cases, the term “cell” may refer toa portion of a geographic coverage area 110 (e.g., a sector) over whichthe logical entity operates.

UEs 115 may be dispersed throughout the wireless communications system100, and each UE 115 may be stationary or mobile. A UE 115 may also bereferred to as a mobile device, a wireless device, a remote device, ahandheld device, or a subscriber device, or some other suitableterminology, where the “device” may also be referred to as a unit, astation, a terminal, or a client. A UE 115 may also be a personalelectronic device such as a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a personal computer. Insome examples, a UE 115 may also refer to a wireless local loop (WLL)station, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, an Internet of Everything(IoE) device, or an MTC device, or the like, which may be implemented invarious articles such as appliances, vehicles, meters, or the like.

Some UEs 115, such as MTC or IoT devices, may be low cost or lowcomplexity devices, and may provide for automated communication betweenmachines (e.g., via Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication). M2Mcommunication or MTC may refer to data communication technologies thatallow devices to communicate with one another or a base station 105without human intervention. In some examples, M2M communication or MTCmay include communications from devices that integrate sensors or metersto measure or capture information and relay that information to acentral server or application program that can make use of theinformation or present the information to humans interacting with theprogram or application. Some UEs 115 may be designed to collectinformation or enable automated behavior of machines. Examples ofapplications for MTC devices include smart metering, inventorymonitoring, water level monitoring, equipment monitoring, healthcaremonitoring, wildlife monitoring, weather and geological eventmonitoring, fleet management and tracking, remote security sensing,physical access control, and transaction-based business charging.

Some UEs 115 may be configured to employ operating modes that reducepower consumption, such as half-duplex communications (e.g., a mode thatsupports one-way communication via transmission or reception, but nottransmission and reception simultaneously). In some examples half-duplexcommunications may be performed at a reduced peak rate. Other powerconservation techniques for UEs 115 include entering a power saving“deep sleep” mode when not engaging in active communications, oroperating over a limited bandwidth (e.g., according to narrowbandcommunications). In some cases, UEs 115 may be designed to supportcritical functions (e.g., mission critical functions), and a wirelesscommunications system 100 may be configured to provide ultra-reliablecommunications for these functions.

In some cases, a UE 115 may also be able to communicate directly withother UEs 115 (e.g., using a peer-to-peer (P2P) or device-to-device(D2D) protocol). One or more of a group of UEs 115 utilizing D2Dcommunications may be within the geographic coverage area 110 of a basestation 105. Other UEs 115 in such a group may be outside the geographiccoverage area 110 of a base station 105, or be otherwise unable toreceive transmissions from a base station 105. In some cases, groups ofUEs 115 communicating via D2D communications may utilize a one-to-many(1:M) system in which each UE 115 transmits to every other UE 115 in thegroup. In some cases, a base station 105 facilitates the scheduling ofresources for D2D communications. In other cases, D2D communications arecarried out between UEs 115 without the involvement of a base station105.

Base stations 105 may communicate with the core network 130 and with oneanother. For example, base stations 105 may interface with the corenetwork 130 through backhaul links 132 (e.g., via an S1, N2, N3, orother interface). Base stations 105 may communicate with one anotherover backhaul links 134 (e.g., via an X2, Xn, or other interface) eitherdirectly (e.g., directly between base stations 105) or indirectly (e.g.,via core network 130).

The core network 130 may provide user authentication, accessauthorization, tracking, Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and otheraccess, routing, or mobility functions. The core network 130 may be anevolved packet core (EPC), which may include at least one mobilitymanagement entity (MME), at least one serving gateway (S-GW), and atleast one Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway (P-GW). The MME may managenon-access stratum (e.g., control plane) functions such as mobility,authentication, and bearer management for UEs 115 served by basestations 105 associated with the EPC. User IP packets may be transferredthrough the S-GW, which itself may be connected to the P-GW. The P-GWmay provide IP address allocation as well as other functions. The P-GWmay be connected to the network operators IP services. The operators IPservices may include access to the Internet, Intranet(s), an IPMultimedia Subsystem (IMS), or a Packet-Switched (PS) Streaming Service.

At least some of the network devices, such as a base station 105-a, mayinclude subcomponents such as an access network entity 105-b, which maybe an example of an access node controller (ANC). Each access networkentity 105-b may communicate with UEs 115 through a number of otheraccess network transmission entities, which may be referred to as aradio head 105-c, a smart radio head, or a TRP. In some configurations,various functions of each access network entity or base station 105 maybe distributed across various network devices (e.g., radio heads andaccess network controllers) or consolidated into a single network device(e.g., a base station 105).

Wireless communications system 100 may operate using one or morefrequency bands, such as in the range of 300 megahertz (MHz) to 300 GHz.The region from 300 MHz to 3 GHz is sometimes known as the ultra-highfrequency (UHF) region or decimeter band, since the wavelengths rangefrom approximately one decimeter to one meter in length. UHF waves maybe blocked or redirected by buildings and environmental features.However, the waves may penetrate structures sufficiently for a macrocell to provide service to UEs 115 located indoors. Transmission of UHFwaves may be associated with smaller antennas and shorter range (e.g.,less than 100 km) compared to transmission using the smaller frequenciesand longer waves of the high frequency (HF) or very high frequency (VHF)portion of the spectrum below 300 MHz.

Wireless communications system 100 may also operate in a super highfrequency (SHF) region using frequency bands from 3 GHz to 30 GHz, alsoknown as the centimeter band. The SHF region includes bands such as the5 GHz industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) bands, which may be usedopportunistically by devices that may be capable of toleratinginterference from other users.

Wireless communications system 100 may also operate in an extremely highfrequency (EHF) region of the spectrum (e.g., from 30 GHz to 300 GHz),also known as the millimeter band. In some examples, wirelesscommunications system 100 may mmW communications between UEs 115 andbase stations 105, and EHF antennas of the respective devices may beeven smaller and more closely spaced than UHF antennas. In some cases,this may facilitate use of antenna arrays within a UE 115. However, thepropagation of EHF transmissions may be subject to even greateratmospheric attenuation and shorter range than SHF or UHF transmissions.Techniques disclosed herein may be employed across transmissions thatuse one or more different frequency regions, and designated use of bandsacross these frequency regions may differ by country or regulating body.

In some cases, wireless communications system 100 may utilize bothlicensed and unlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands. For example,wireless communications system 100 may employ License Assisted Access(LAA), LTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U) radio access technology, or NR technologyin an unlicensed band such as the 5 GHz ISM band. When operating inunlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands, wireless devices such as basestations 105 and UEs 115 may employ listen-before-talk (LBT) proceduresto ensure a frequency channel is clear before transmitting data. In somecases, operations in unlicensed bands may be based on a carrieraggregation configuration in conjunction with component carriersoperating in a licensed band (e.g., LAA). Operations in unlicensedspectrum may include downlink transmissions, uplink transmissions,peer-to-peer transmissions, or a combination of these. Duplexing inunlicensed spectrum may be based on frequency division duplexing (FDD),time division duplexing (TDD), or a combination of both.

In some examples, base station 105 or UE 115 may be equipped withmultiple antennas, which may be used to employ techniques such astransmit diversity, receive diversity, multiple-input multiple-output(MIMO) communications, or beamforming. For example, wirelesscommunications system 100 may use a transmission scheme between atransmitting device (e.g., a base station 105) and a receiving device(e.g., a UE 115), where the transmitting device is equipped withmultiple antennas and the receiving device is equipped with one or moreantennas. MIMO communications may employ multipath signal propagation toincrease the spectral efficiency by transmitting or receiving multiplesignals via different spatial layers, which may be referred to asspatial multiplexing. The multiple signals may, for example, betransmitted by the transmitting device via different antennas ordifferent combinations of antennas. Likewise, the multiple signals maybe received by the receiving device via different antennas or differentcombinations of antennas. Each of the multiple signals may be referredto as a separate spatial stream, and may carry bits associated with thesame data stream (e.g., the same codeword) or different data streams.Different spatial layers may be associated with different antenna portsused for channel measurement and reporting. MIMO techniques includesingle-user MIMO (SU-MIMO) where multiple spatial layers are transmittedto the same receiving device, and multiple-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) wheremultiple spatial layers are transmitted to multiple devices.

Beamforming, which may also be referred to as spatial filtering,directional transmission, or directional reception, is a signalprocessing technique that may be used at a transmitting device or areceiving device (e.g., a base station 105 or a UE 115) to shape orsteer an antenna beam (e.g., a transmit beam or receive beam) along aspatial path between the transmitting device and the receiving device.Beamforming may be achieved by combining the signals communicated viaantenna elements of an antenna array such that signals propagating atparticular orientations with respect to an antenna array experienceconstructive interference while others experience destructiveinterference. The adjustment of signals communicated via the antennaelements may include a transmitting device or a receiving deviceapplying certain amplitude and phase offsets to signals carried via eachof the antenna elements associated with the device. The adjustmentsassociated with each of the antenna elements may be defined by abeamforming weight set associated with a particular orientation (e.g.,with respect to the antenna array of the transmitting device orreceiving device, or with respect to some other orientation).

In one example, a base station 105 may use multiple antennas or antennaarrays to conduct beamforming operations for directional communicationswith a UE 115. For instance, some signals (e.g. synchronization signals,reference signals, beam selection signals, or other control signals) maybe transmitted by a base station 105 multiple times in differentdirections, which may include a signal being transmitted according todifferent beamforming weight sets associated with different directionsof transmission. Transmissions in different beam directions may be usedto identify (e.g., by the base station 105 or a receiving device, suchas a UE 115) a beam direction for subsequent transmission and/orreception by the base station 105.

Some signals, such as data signals associated with a particularreceiving device, may be transmitted by a base station 105 in a singlebeam direction (e.g., a direction associated with the receiving device,such as a UE 115). In some examples, the beam direction associated withtransmissions along a single beam direction may be determined based atleast in in part on a signal that was transmitted in different beamdirections. For example, a UE 115 may receive one or more of the signalstransmitted by the base station 105 in different directions, and the UE115 may report to the base station 105 an indication of the signal itreceived with a highest signal quality, or an otherwise acceptablesignal quality. Although these techniques are described with referenceto signals transmitted in one or more directions by a base station 105,a UE 115 may employ similar techniques for transmitting signals multipletimes in different directions (e.g., for identifying a beam directionfor subsequent transmission or reception by the UE 115), or transmittinga signal in a single direction (e.g., for transmitting data to areceiving device).

A receiving device (e.g., a UE 115, which may be an example of a mmWreceiving device) may try multiple receive beams when receiving varioussignals from the base station 105, such as synchronization signals,reference signals, beam selection signals, or other control signals. Forexample, a receiving device may try multiple receive directions byreceiving via different antenna subarrays, by processing receivedsignals according to different antenna subarrays, by receiving accordingto different receive beamforming weight sets applied to signals receivedat a plurality of antenna elements of an antenna array, or by processingreceived signals according to different receive beamforming weight setsapplied to signals received at a plurality of antenna elements of anantenna array, any of which may be referred to as “listening” accordingto different receive beams or receive directions. In some examples areceiving device may use a single receive beam to receive along a singlebeam direction (e.g., when receiving a data signal). The single receivebeam may be aligned in a beam direction determined based at least inpart on listening according to different receive beam directions (e.g.,a beam direction determined to have a highest signal strength, highestsignal-to-noise ratio, or otherwise acceptable signal quality based atleast in part on listening according to multiple beam directions).

In some cases, the antennas of a base station 105 or UE 115 may belocated within one or more antenna arrays, which may support MIMOoperations, or transmit or receive beamforming. For example, one or morebase station antennas or antenna arrays may be co-located at an antennaassembly, such as an antenna tower. In some cases, antennas or antennaarrays associated with a base station 105 may be located in diversegeographic locations. A base station 105 may have an antenna array witha number of rows and columns of antenna ports that the base station 105may use to support beamforming of communications with a UE 115.Likewise, a UE 115 may have one or more antenna arrays that may supportvarious MIMO or beamforming operations.

In some cases, wireless communications system 100 may be a packet-basednetwork that operate according to a layered protocol stack. In the userplane, communications at the bearer or Packet Data Convergence Protocol(PDCP) layer may be IP-based. A Radio Link Control (RLC) layer mayperform packet segmentation and reassembly to communicate over logicalchannels. A MAC layer may perform priority handling and multiplexing oflogical channels into transport channels. The MAC layer may also usehybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) to provide retransmission at theMAC layer to improve link efficiency. In the control plane, the RadioResource Control (RRC) protocol layer may provide establishment,configuration, and maintenance of an RRC connection between a UE 115 anda base station 105 or core network 130 supporting radio bearers for userplane data. At the Physical layer, transport channels may be mapped tophysical channels.

In some cases, UEs 115 and base stations 105 may support retransmissionsof data to increase the likelihood that data is received successfully.HARQ feedback is one technique of increasing the likelihood that data isreceived correctly over a communication link 125. HARQ may include acombination of error detection (e.g., using a CRC), forward errorcorrection (FEC), and retransmission (e.g., automatic repeat request(ARQ)). HARQ may improve throughput at the MAC layer in poor radioconditions (e.g., signal-to-noise conditions). In some cases, a wirelessdevice may support same-slot HARQ feedback, where the device may provideHARQ feedback in a specific slot for data received in a previous symbolin the slot. In other cases, the device may provide HARQ feedback in asubsequent slot, or according to some other time interval.

Time intervals in LTE or NR may be expressed in multiples of a basictime unit, which may, for example, refer to a sampling period of Ts =1/30,720,000 seconds. Time intervals of a communications resource may beorganized according to radio frames each having a duration of 10milliseconds (ms), where the frame period may be expressed as Tf =307,200 Ts. The radio frames may be identified by a system frame number(SFN) ranging from 0 to 1023. Each frame may include 10 subframesnumbered from 0 to 9, and each subframe may have a duration of 1 ms. Asubframe may be further divided into 2 slots each having a duration of0.5 ms, and each slot may contain 6 or 7 modulation symbol periods(e.g., depending on the length of the cyclic prefix prepended to eachsymbol period). Excluding the cyclic prefix, each symbol period maycontain 2048 sampling periods. In some cases, a subframe may be thesmallest scheduling unit of the wireless communications system 100, andmay be referred to as a transmission time interval (TTI). In othercases, a smallest scheduling unit of the wireless communications system100 may be shorter than a subframe or may be dynamically selected (e.g.,in bursts of shortened TTIs (sTTIs) or in selected component carriersusing sTTIs).

In some wireless communications systems, a slot may further be dividedinto multiple mini-slots containing one or more symbols. In someinstances, a symbol of a mini-slot or a mini-slot may be the smallestunit of scheduling. Each symbol may vary in duration depending on thesubcarrier spacing or frequency band of operation, for example. Further,some wireless communications systems may implement slot aggregation inwhich multiple slots or mini-slots are aggregated together and used forcommunication between a UE 115 and a base station 105.

The term “carrier” refers to a set of radio frequency spectrum resourceshaving a defined physical layer structure for supporting communicationsover a communication link 125. For example, a carrier of a communicationlink 125 may include a portion of a radio frequency spectrum band thatis operated according to physical layer channels for a given radioaccess technology. Each physical layer channel may carry user data,control information, or other signaling. A carrier may be associatedwith a pre-defined frequency channel (e.g., an evolved universal mobiletelecommunication system terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) absoluteradio frequency channel number (EARFCN)), and may be positionedaccording to a channel raster for discovery by UEs 115. Carriers may bedownlink or uplink (e.g., in an FDD mode), or be configured to carrydownlink and uplink communications (e.g., in a TDD mode). In someexamples, signal waveforms transmitted over a carrier may be made up ofmultiple sub-carriers (e.g., using multi-carrier modulation (MCM)techniques such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) ordiscrete Fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM)).

The organizational structure of the carriers may be different fordifferent radio access technologies (e.g., LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR).For example, communications over a carrier may be organized according toTTIs or slots, each of which may include user data as well as controlinformation or signaling to support decoding the user data. A carriermay also include dedicated acquisition signaling (e.g., synchronizationsignals or system information, etc.) and control signaling thatcoordinates operation for the carrier. In some examples (e.g., in acarrier aggregation configuration), a carrier may also have acquisitionsignaling or control signaling that coordinates operations for othercarriers.

Physical channels may be multiplexed on a carrier according to varioustechniques. A physical control channel and a physical data channel maybe multiplexed on a downlink carrier, for example, using time divisionmultiplexing (TDM) techniques, frequency division multiplexing (FDM)techniques, or hybrid TDM-FDM techniques. In some examples, controlinformation transmitted in a physical control channel may be distributedbetween different control regions in a cascaded manner (e.g., between acommon control region or common search space and one or more UE-specificcontrol regions or UE-specific search spaces).

A carrier may be associated with a particular bandwidth of the radiofrequency spectrum, and in some examples the carrier bandwidth may bereferred to as a “system bandwidth” of the carrier or the wirelesscommunications system 100. For example, the carrier bandwidth may be oneof a number of predetermined bandwidths for carriers of a particularradio access technology (e.g., 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 40, or 80 MHz). Insome examples, each served UE 115 may be configured for operating overportions or all of the carrier bandwidth. In other examples, some UEs115 may be configured for operation using a narrowband protocol typethat is associated with a predefined portion or range (e.g., set ofsubcarriers or RBs) within a carrier (e.g., “in-band” deployment of anarrowband protocol type).

One or more of the base stations 105, when configured as a wirelessdevice, may include a base station (BS) communication manager 101, whichmay identify a resource for wireless communication, the resource beingin a first state where the resource is active for wireless communicationand is inactive for a communication failure recovery procedure. The BScommunication manager 101 may determine that a communication failure hasoccurred during a first communication period. The BS communicationmanager 101 may transition, during a second communication period andbased at least in part on the communication failure, the resource to asecond state where the resource is inactive for wireless communicationand is active for the communication recovery procedure. The BScommunication manager 101 may perform the communication failure recoveryprocedure using the resource transitioned to the second state. In somecases, the resource may be preconfigured (e.g., via RRC signaling) as anon-demand BFR resource. In some cases, determination of thecommunications failure may be based on one or more enhanced feedbackcommunications or redundant indications of a failure.

UEs 115, when configured as a wireless device, may include a UEcommunication manager 102, which may identify a resource for wirelesscommunication, the resource being in a first state where the resource isactive for wireless communication and is inactive for a communicationfailure recovery procedure. The UE communication manager 102 maydetermine that a communication failure has occurred during a firstcommunication period. The UE communication manager 102 may transition,during a second communication period and based at least in part on thecommunication failure, the resource to a second state where the resourceis inactive for wireless communication and is active for thecommunication recovery procedure. The UE communication manager 102 mayperform the communication failure recovery procedure using the resourcetransitioned to the second state. In some cases, determination of thecommunications failure may be based on one or more enhanced feedbackcommunications or redundant indications of a failure.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrates an example of a wireless communications system200 that supports beam failure recovery techniques in accordance withone or more aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples,wireless communications system 200 may implement aspects of wirelesscommunications system 100. Aspects of wireless communications system 200may be implemented by a base station 205 and/or a UE 215, which may beexamples of the corresponding devices described herein.

Base station 205 may be communicating with UE 215 using a first BPL thatmay include a first beam 210 used by the base station 205 and a secondbeam 220 used by the UE 215. In some aspects, beam 210 and/or 220 may beconsidered an active beam or BPL. That is, beam 210 may be an activetransmit beam and/or an active receive beam used by base station 205 toperform wireless communications with UE 215. Similarly, beam 220 may bean active transmit beam and/or an active receive beam used by UE 215perform wireless communications with base station 205.

In some aspects, techniques may include periodic BFR resources that arepreconfigured for base station 205 and UE 215, and on-demand BFRresources that are preconfigured and activated in the event of acommunications failure. In some cases, to reduce overhead, on-demand BFRresources may be configured. In cases where periodic BFR resources areconfigured, for example, since both sides may not know when acommunication failure will happen, the periods of beam failureindication (BFI) reporting and/or contention free random access (CFRA)random access channel (RACH) resource may be relatively long, so as toreduce overhead associated with such periodic resources. For example,BFI reporting periodicity may be at least 2 ms, the RACH resourceperiodicity may be at least 10 ms, there may be 4 slots between a RACHtransmission slot and the response window start slot, and the like. Insome aspects, the average BFR completion duration may be large, e.g., atleast (BFI report periodicity)/2 + (RACH resource period)/2 + 4 slots =6.5 ms. This may assume that the beam failure discovery (BFD) referencesignal period is at most 2 ms, a maximum count of BFI’s of one, alatency for BFI report to next candidate beam reference signal beingnegligible, the response window duration is one slot, and that there isno error from the preamble transmission to the response reception.Latency may be further increased where retransmission is involved.However, this approach, may have a relatively large latency that may notbe desirable for high priority or low latency communications.

Thus, in some cases on-demand BFR resources may be configured that areactivated in the event of a communications failure. For example,on-demand BFR resources may be pre-configured (e.g., via RRC signaling),and used for a BFR procedure in the event of a communications failure,and otherwise used for uplink and downlink communications in the eventof no communications failure. A communication period/cycle may beconsidered to have failed if a packet being communicated in at least onedirection (e.g., uplink and/or downlink) is not successfully receivedand decoded. In some examples, this may include any retransmissions ofthe failed packet. In some aspects, a communication failure of acommunication period/cycle may indicate that a beam failure has occurred(e.g., which may include a loss of all active control beams within acell) and/or a radio link failure (e.g., which may include the wholecell failing, such as a complete loss of communications between the celland the UE 215). In some aspects, the communication period/cycle mayrefer to any time frame in which communications are performed betweenbase station 205 and UE 215. For example, based on periodic traffic,base station 205 and/or UE 215 may be in sync with regards to expectedcommunications (e.g., for an initial transmission and/or aretransmission) such that a communication failure within a communicationperiod/cycle is known or can otherwise be detected by each device.

In some aspects, configured on-demand BFR resources may include aresource (e.g., time resource(s), frequency resource(s), spatialresource(s), code resource(s), and the like, alone or in anycombination) that are configured for base station 205 and UE 215. Forexample, base station 205 may transmit a signal (e.g., an RRC signal, aMAC control element, and the like) to UE 215 that configures theresource. In some cases, the resource may be configured in a first statewhere the resource is active for wireless communications between basestation 205 and UE 215, but is inactive for a communication failurerecovery procedure. That is, the resource may be available to use forongoing communications between base station 205 and UE 215 over beams210 and 220, respectively, but may be dynamically activated (e.g.,transitioned to a second state) upon detecting or otherwise determiningthat a communication failure has occurred during a first communicationperiod/cycle. In the second state, the resource may be inactive forwireless communications, but active for the communication failurerecovery procedure. Accordingly, base station 205 and UE 215 maytransition the resource to the second state in response to acommunication failure, and use the resource during a communicationfailure recovery procedure to identify a new candidate beam to use forfuture communications. That is, the new beam identified in thecommunication period/cycle in which the communication failure recoveryprocedure occurs may be applied to the following communicationperiod/cycle.

Accordingly and with reference to FIG. 2A, base station 205 and UE 215may identify a resource for wireless communications, with the resourcebeing in the first state. The wireless communications may include basestation 205 communicating with UE 215 with a first BPL that includesbeam 210 (e.g., a currently active transmit and/or receive beam of basestation 205) and beam 220 (e.g., a currently active transmit and/orreceive beam of UE 215). In some cases, base station 205 and/or UE 215may determine that a communication failure has occurred during a firstcommunication period. As discussed, the communication failure may referto a beam failure (e.g., a loss of control beams of base station 205), aradio link failure (e.g., a complete loss of communications between basestation 205 and UE 215), and the like. The first communication period(or cycle) may refer to any time period in which an expectedcommunication of information (uplink, downlink, or both) occurs betweenbase station 205 and UE 215. In one non-limiting example, this mayinclude an initial transmission and/or retransmission not beingtransmitted from UE 215 or not being received by base station 205. Forexample, UE 215 may not transmit, or base station 205 may not receive, adownlink acknowledgment transmission and/or an uplink packettransmission.

Accordingly, in some examples base station 205 and UE 215 may bothdetect or otherwise determine that the communication failure hasoccurred. In response, base station 205 and UE 215 may both transitionthe on-demand BFR resource to a second state where the resource isinactive for wireless communications, but is active for thecommunication failure recovery procedure. That is, upon detecting thecommunication failure, base station 205 and UE 215 may identify thepreconfigured BFR resources associated with the BFR procedure (butavailable to use for wireless communications while in the first state)and transition those resources to the second state where they areavailable or otherwise active to use for the BFR procedure. Base station205 and UE 215 may perform the BFR procedure using the resourcetransitioned to the second state.

For example and with reference to FIG. 2B, this may include base station205 using the BFR resource transitioned to the second state to transmitone or more BFR candidate beam reference signals (RSs) 225. In someaspects, this may include base station 205 transmitting the BFRcandidate beam RSs 225 in a sweeping manner (e.g., in a plurality ofdirections). For example, base station 205 may transmit BFR candidatebeam reference signal (RS) 225-a in a first direction, BFR candidatebeam RS 225-b in a second direction, BFR candidate beam RS 225-c in athird direction, and BFR candidate beam RS 225-d in a fourth directionIn one non-limiting example, this may include base station 205 using aset of candidate beams maintained for UE 215, e.g., the top four, six,etc., candidate beams associated with UE 215. It is to be understood tomore or fewer BFR candidate beam RSs 225 may be transmitted.

In some aspects, UE 215 may, based on determining that the communicationfailure has occurred, monitor the BFR resource transitioned to thesecond state in order to receive one or more of the BFR candidate beamRSs 225. For example, UE 215 may use one or more receive beams tomeasure a quality (e.g., a received signal strength) of the BFRcandidate beam RSs 225 to identify a preferred candidate beam from theBFR candidate beam RSs 225. For example, UE 215 may identify the bestcandidate beam and/or top N candidate beams from the BFR candidate beamRSs 225, where N is a positive integer of two or more.

With reference to FIG. 2C, base station 205 may transmit a BFR requestsignal (BFRQ) to base station 205 that carries or otherwise conveys anindication identifying a preferred candidate beam (e.g., the bestcandidate beam or top N candidate beams) from the BFR candidate beam RSs225. In some aspects, the BFRQ may be transmitted using a beam 230 whichmay, in some examples, correspond to the preferred candidate beam.

Accordingly, base station 205 may receive the BFRQ and identify thepreferred candidate beam indicated by UE 215. Base station 205 may usethis beam as its new active BPL in wireless communications with UE 215.That is, base station 205 may receive the BFRQ and identify the bestcandidate beam (or top N candidate beams) that UE 215 received from basestation 205. Base station 205 may adopt or otherwise select thepreferred candidate beam identified in the BFRQ and select this as thenew active beam to use in an updated BPL for communicating with UE 215.Similarly, UE 215 may select the preferred candidate beam (e.g., beam230) to use for communications with base station 205. Upon successfulcompletion of the BFR procedure, base station 205 and UE 215 maytransition the preconfigured BFR resource back to the first state wherethe BFR resource is active for wireless communications between basestation 205 and UE 215. That is, upon base station 205 receiving theBFRQ and identifying the updated BPL, base station 205 and UE 215 mayknow that the BFR resource is no longer needed for a communicationfailure recovery procedure, and may therefore transition the BFRresource back to the first state where it is available for wirelesscommunications between base station 205 and UE 215, but inactive for acommunication failure recovery procedure.

In some aspects, the one or more BFR candidate beam RSs 225 may becommon to all UEs (since it is beam-swept) while the uplink resource(e.g., for the BFRQ using beam 230) may be separately configured on aper-UE basis or an implicitly derived configuration based on a UE’sdownlink and/or uplink assignment. In some cases, the uplink resourcefor BFRQ can be a per-UE resources (e.g., indicated in RRC or in aMAC-CE), including physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources,physical random access channel (PRACH) resources, or combinationsthereof. Such per-UE resources may be separated, for example, in time,frequency, spatial, or code domains, or combinations thereof.

In some cases, the base station 205 and UE 215 may configure bothon-demand BFR resources and periodic BFR resources. For example,periodic BFR resources may be configured in which the base station 205may transmit candidate beam RSs 225 irrespective of whether acommunications failure has occurred, and in which the UE 215 may haveassociated uplink resources (e.g., time resource(s), frequencyresource(s), spatial resource(s), code resource(s), and the like, aloneor in any combination) for transmission of BFRQ. In some cases, it mayhappen that the UE 215, base station 205, or both determine that acommunications failure has occurred that would trigger activation on theon-demand BFR resources in a time period (e.g., in a communicationperiod or cycle) that also has periodic BFR resources configured. Insuch cases, a priority rule may be established that indicates which BFRresource to use for the BFR procedure. For example, the priority rulemay indicate that the periodic BFR resources are to be used in such acase. In other cases, the priority rule may indicate to use the periodicBFR resources for communications having predetermined latency targetswhen a failure is determined within a window in advance of the periodicBFR resources (e.g., eMBB communications may use the periodic BFRresources if a failure is detected within a certain number ofcommunications periods of the periodic BFR resource), and to use theon-demand BFR resources for lower latency or higher prioritytransmissions (e.g., on-demand BFR resources are used for ultra-reliablelow latency communications (URLLC)). In such cases, a priority rule maybe utilized to select which of the on-demand BFR resources or theperiodic BFR resources are to be used for establishing the updated BPL.In some cases, the priority rule may be preconfigured, staticallyconfigured, or semi-statically configured.

In some cases, activation of the on-demand BFR resources for a BFRprocedure may be based on one or both of the UE 215 or base station 205not receiving an expected communication or receiving a feedbackindication that indicates a particular communication was notsuccessfully received. For example, base station 205 may transmit adownlink communication to UE 215 based on a downlink resourceallocation. In cases where the UE 215 receives the downlink resourceallocation and does not successfully decode the downlink communication,the UE 215 may transmit a NACK to the base station 205 to indicate thatthe downlink communication failed. Further, in cases where the UE 215does not successfully receive the downlink resource allocation, the UE215 may not monitor for the downlink communication and may not transmitany feedback, which the base station 205 may then consider to be acommunications failure. Further, in some cases the UE 215 maysuccessfully receive the downlink communication and transmit an ACK tothe base station 205, but the base station 205 may not receive the ACKfeedback or there may be a decoding error that results in the basestation 205 decoding an ACK when the UE 215 transmitted a NACK. Similarsituations may occur when the UE 215 transmits uplink transmissions tothe base station 205.

In some cases, the robustness of beam failure recovery activations maybe enhanced in accordance with techniques discussed herein to reducecases where one wireless device (e.g., a UE 215 or base station 205) mayassume a communications failure has occurred and the other wirelessdevice does not think a communications failure has occurred. In somecases, reliability of acknowledgment feedback transmission may beenhanced by providing that such acknowledgment feedback is transmittedwith a CRC regardless of a payload size of the acknowledgment feedback,which may reduce instances of a receiving device incorrectly decoding anACK as a NACK. In some cases, reliability of BFR resource activationsmay be enhanced through one or more redundant indications that BFRresources are to be activated. Additionally or alternatively, in somecases a no-traffic indication may be provided by a transmitting device,which a receiving device may use to determine that a lack oftransmission is intentional and not assume that there has been acommunications failure. Various of the techniques provided herein, orcombinations thereof, may allow for more reliable and efficientcommunications due to reduced numbers of occasions where one wirelessdevice of a BPL activates BFR resources to initiate the BFR procedure.For example, one or more integrated circuits (e.g., transceivers,processors, etc.) of the wireless device (e.g., a UE 215 or base station205) may implement the beam failure recovery techniques discussed hereinto reduce overall power consumption for the wireless device.

Further, in some cases, communications reliability may be enhancedthrough transmissions using multiple beams. In such cases, the basestation 205 may, for example, transmit a downlink transmission using abeam sweeping pattern (e.g., all or a portion of a downlink transmissiontransmitted using multiple different beams), which may enhance thelikelihood of successful receipt at the UE 215. Further, in some casesthe UE 215 may transmit a responsive uplink communication using uplinkbeams that are QCLed with the beams of the beam sweeping pattern usedfor the downlink transmission. In some cases, such techniques may beused based on one or more measurements that indicate an established BPLmay be becoming unreliable, and beam sweeping using multiple beams thatare relatively close to the established BPL may enhance the likelihoodof successful communications. Additionally, in some cases, in order toreduce communications gaps in the event that a communications failureoccurs on a first BPL with a first TRP, the UE 215 may use a differentTRP and/or BPL for communications while a BFR procedure is beingperformed for the first BPL/TRP. Once the BFR procedure is complete andan updated BPL is established between the UE 215 and the first TRP, theresources associated with the second BPL/TRP may be released. In somecases, both the first TRP and the second TRP may be associated with thesame base station 205. In some cases, the UE 215 may transmit to two ormore different TRPs during the BFR procedure, which may include thefirst TRP, to enhance the likelihood of successful communications.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a BFR configuration 300 that supportsbeam failure recovery techniques in accordance with one or more aspectsof the present disclosure. In some examples, BFR configuration 300 mayimplement aspects of wireless communications system 100 or 200. Aspectsof BFR configuration 300 may be implemented by a base station and/or aUE, which may be examples of the corresponding devices described herein.In some aspects, the base station and/or UE may be examples of awireless device implementing aspects of the described techniques.

In some aspects, the base station may be performing wirelesscommunications with one or more UEs, with N UEs being shown by way ofexample and N corresponding to a positive integer of one or more. In theexample illustrated in BFR configuration 300, this may include the basestation performing a downlink transmission 305 to UE 1, a downlinktransmission 310 to UE 2, and continuing with downlink transmissionsuntil downlink transmission 315 to UE N. Although BFR configuration 300illustrates such downlink transmissions as being data transmissions(e.g., PDSCH), it is to be understood that the downlink transmissionsmay be any combination of control, system, and/or data beingcommunicated to the respective UE.

In some aspects, the wireless communications may include one or moreuplink transmissions from N UEs to the base station. For example, thismay include a first uplink transmission 320 from UE 1, a second uplinktransmission 325 from UE 2, and continuing with uplink transmissionsuntil uplink transmission 330 from UE N. Again, although BFRconfiguration 300 illustrates such uplink transmissions as being datatransmissions (e.g., PUSCH), it is to be understood that the uplinktransmissions may be any combination of control, system, and/or databeing communicated to the base station.

Although not illustrated in BFR configuration 300, it is to beunderstood that the uplink and/or downlink transmissions may include oneor more of initial transmissions and/or retransmissions of informationbetween the base station and respective UEs.

The uplink and/or downlink transmissions (e.g., the initialtransmissions) may occur during a first communication period (orcommunication cycle). A communication period may refer to any timeperiod in which communications are expected to occur, including uplinktransmissions and/or downlink transmissions.

In some aspects, one or more of the wireless communications between thebase station the UE may occur over a resource that is configured orotherwise operating in a first state. The resource may refer to anycombination of time resource(s), a frequency resource(s), spatialresource(s), a code resource(s), and the like. The resource configuredin the first state may mean that the resource is available to use forwireless communications between a base station and a UE. For example oneor more of the downlink transmissions 305, 310, and/or 315 may beperformed using some or all the resource in the first state. Similarly,one or more of the uplink transmissions 320, 325, and/or 330 may beperformed using some or all of the resources in the first state. Thus,the resource in the first state may be available for use by the basestation and/or UE for performing wireless communications (e.g.,PUCCH/PUSCH/PDCCH/PDSCH communications). In some aspects, the resourcesin the first state may be inactive or otherwise unavailable for a BFRprocedure. That is, the resources may be allocated or otherwiseidentified for use in a BFR procedure, but are inactive for suchcommunication failure recovery procedure until a communication failureoccurs.

In some aspects, the resources may be preconfigured before acommunication failure occurs. For example, the base station may transmita signal to a UE configuring the resource in the first state. Examplesof the signal may include, but are not limited to, an RRC signal, a MACcontrol element, an initial configuration signal, and the like.Accordingly, the base station and UEs may identify the resource forwireless communication, with the resource being in the first state.However, the base station and/or the UE may determine that acommunication failure has occurred during the first communication period(e.g., during one or more of the initial transmissions/retransmissions).The communication failure may refer to a beam failure and/or a radiolink failure.

Accordingly, the base station and the UE may transition the resourcefrom the first state to a second state in response to the communicationfailure. In the second state, the resource may be inactive for wirelesscommunications, but may be active for a BFR procedure. That is, theresource in the first state used for wireless communications between thebase station and UE may be dynamically transitioned or otherwiserepurposed to use for the BFR procedure upon detecting a communicationfailure between the base station and UE. In some aspects, this mayminimize waste by allowing for fewer or no periodic BFR resources beingconfigured and available for use in periodic BFR procedures.

In some aspects, the base station and the UE may perform thecommunication failure recovery procedure using the resource that hasbeen transitioned to the second state, e.g., using the resource that isactivated for the BFR procedure in response to detecting thecommunication failure. In some aspects, this may include the basestation transmitting (and the UE receiving) one or more BFR candidatebeams RSs using the resource transitioned to the second state. Forexample, the base station may transmit the one or more BFR candidatebeam RSs in a sweeping manner across at least a portion of its coveragearea using different transmit beams. For example, the base station maytransmit a first BFR candidate beam RS 335 on beam 1, a second BFRcandidate beam RS 340 on beam 2, and continuing until and Nth BFRcandidate beam RS 345 on beam N, with N being a positive integer of oneor more. In some aspects, each beam used to transmit the BFR candidatebeam RS may be unique (e.g., may have a unique identifier assigned)and/or may be transmitted in a different direction (e.g., in a sweepingmanner). In some aspects, each BFR candidate beam RS may be transmittedin one symbol (e.g., the CSI-RS), and may have a corresponding uplinkresource with an identical base station beam for transmit and receive.For example, each uplink resource may be one symbol PUCCH (e.g., format0 or 2).

In some aspects, based on detecting or otherwise determining that acommunication failure has occurred, the UE may monitor for the BFRcandidate beam RSs to determine or otherwise identify a preferredcandidate beam to use for future communications with the base station.For example, the UE may identify the best candidate beam from the BFRcandidate beam RSs and/or may identify the top N candidate beams fromthe BFR candidate beams RSs, with N being a positive integer of 2 ormore.

In some aspects, the UE may transmit a BFRQ to the base station usingone or more of the resources transitioned to the second state. In theexample illustrated in BFR configuration 300, this may include one ormore PUCCH resources in a slot. In some aspects, the BFRQ may carry orotherwise convey an indication identifying a preferred candidate beam(e.g., the best candidate beam and/or the top N candidate beams).

As discussed, in some examples each beam used to transmit a BFRcandidate beam RS may have a corresponding uplink resource used totransmit the BFRQ to the base station. For example, a first BFRQ 350 maycorrespond to the first BFR candidate beam RS 335 using beam 1, thesecond BFRQ 355 may correspond to the second BFR candidate beam RS 340using beam 2, and the Nth BFRQ 360 may correspond to the Nth BFRcandidate beam RS 345 using beam N. Accordingly, in some aspects the UEmay select an uplink resource from the resource transitioned to thesecond state based on its preferred candidate beam. That is, the UE maytransmit the first BFRQ 350 to the base station using beam 1 when thefirst BFR candidate beam RS 335 is the preferred candidate beam.Accordingly, the base station may know or otherwise identify thepreferred candidate beam from the BFRQ received from the UE based onwhich beam the BFRQ is transmitted on.

Moreover, in some examples the base station may receive multiple BFRQsfrom different UEs. In this context, the different UEs may bedifferentiated using unique initial cyclic shifts, frequencyallocations, and the like, that are associated with each UE.Accordingly, the base station may receive the BFRQ, identify thepreferred candidate beam of the UE, and select this beam to use in anupdated BPL for continuing communications with the UE.

As discussed, aspects of the described techniques may include the UE andthe base station determining that the communication failure hasoccurred. Examples of the communication failure may include, but are notlimited to, the UE assuming that the on-demand BFR is configured (e.g.,the communication failure has occurred, and therefore the resource istransitioned to the second state) if at least one of a downlink ACKand/or an uplink packet is never sent (e.g., transmitted by the UE) inthe previous cycle (e.g., during the first communication period).Another example of the communication failure may include, but is notlimited to, the base station assuming that the BFR is configured (e.g.,the communication failure has occurred, and therefore the resource istransitioned to the second state) if at least one of the downlink ACKand/or the uplink packet is never received by the base station in theprevious cycle (e.g., during the first communication period).

In some situations, there may be misalignment between the UE and thebase station, e.g., one wireless device may detect the communicationfailure, but the other wireless device may not. That is, Table 1 belowillustrates the example alignment scenarios (in terms of whether eachwireless device determines or otherwise identifies the communicationfailure):

TABLE 1 At the BS Side Both DL ACK/UL packet are received in firstcommunication period/cycle At least one of DL ACK/UL packet are notreceived in first communication period/cycle At the UE side Both DLACK/UL packet are transmitted in the first communication period/cycle UE& BS assume no BFR configured (e.g., communication failure is notdetected) UE assumes no BFR configured BS assumes BFR configured Atleast one of DL ACK/UL packet are not transmitted in the firstcommunication period/cycle Possible NACK-to-ACK error UE & BS assume BFRconfigured (e.g., communication failure is detected)

As illustrated in Table 1, when both the downlink ACK and uplink (UL)packet are transmitted by the UE and received by the base station, bothdevices may determine that there has not been a communication failure(e.g., BFR not configured, such that the resource remains in the firststate). In the situation where at least one of the DL ACK and UL packetare not transmitted by the UE and received by the base station, bothdevices may determine that the communication failure has occurred (e.g.,the BFR is configured, such that the resources are transitioned to thesecond state).

The possible NACK-to-ACK alignment may include, if PUSCH was sent butACK was not sent/received, especially with the ACK configured for PUCCHformat 0 or format 2 for small packet transmission (e.g., Reed-Muller,no CRC). Such small packet transmissions may provide that no CRC is usedif packets have a threshold number of bits or less (e.g., ≤ 11 bits).Transmissions without a CRC may result in more frequent NACK-to-ACKerrors relative to transmissions that include a CRC. In this situation,the UE may be transmitting on the BFR resource that it thinks has beenreserved for it (e.g., the resource transitioned to the second state),but in fact this resource may not have been activated by the basestation. Various aspects of the present disclosure provide for enhancedrobustness to misaligned on-demand BFR Activation.

In some cases, errors in ACK/NACK decoding may be reduced throughtechniques in which CRC is applied to feedback transmissions (e.g.,ACK/NACK feedback) irrespective of a payload size of the uplinkcommunications used to transmit the feedback. In some cases, a UE maydetermine that uplink ACK/NACK feedback is less than or equal to thethreshold value that indicates no CRC, and the UE may transmit theACK/NACK feedback using an uplink transmission that shares a CRC withanother uplink transmission, such as a PUSCH transmission. In somecases, the UE may format the ACK/NACK feedback into a MAC-CE that istransmitted with the uplink shared channel transmission, and thus a CRCis computed for the entire uplink transmission including the feedbackinformation. In some cases, a MAC-CE may be defined for carrying suchfeedback data, and the base station may recognize the MAC-CE in theuplink transmission and decode the feedback accordingly. In some cases,the UE may be deployed in an IIoT or factory automation setting, and thedownlink transmission being acknowledged may be a motion control commandin which the ACK/NACK feedback is a single bit that indicates thedownlink command has been received. In such cases, a single bit may bedefined for transmission with an uplink shared channel transmission(e.g., in a special MAC-CE) that provides such feedback and shares a CRCwith the uplink shared channel transmission and thus has a higherlikelihood of being successfully and correctly decoded.

In other cases, the UE and base station may configure feedbacktransmissions to have their own CRC, even in cases where the payloadsize is at or less than the payload size threshold. In some cases, theUE may add one or more padding bits (e.g., leading or trailing 1’s or0’s) to the feedback payload to that the padded payload exceeds thethreshold for CRC attachment (e.g., > 11 bits). In other cases, thefeedback payload may be encoded according to an encoding technique thatprovides an encoded output that exceeds the threshold for CRC attachment(e.g., bit patterns that are less than the threshold value may be mappedto corresponding bit patterns that exceed the payload threshold size forattaching CRC). In other cases, the feedback payload may be repeated oneor more times so the repeated payload exceeds the threshold for CRCattachment. In still further cases, one or more combinations of padding,encoding, or repeating may be used so the payload exceeds the thresholdfor CRC attachment. In some cases, the base station and UE maydynamically indicate to the other side that a particular CRC attachmentoption is applied to uplink transmissions with a small payload (e.g., ≤11 bits).

In some aspects of the disclosure, robustness of activating BFR may beenhanced by providing a confirmation of BFR activation or a redundantindication that BFR is activated. In some cases, such confirmation maybe based on the base station transmitting candidate beam RSs in theevent that the base station has determined a communications failure, andthe UE transmitting BFRQ after detecting the candidate beam RSs. In suchcases, the UE will not send BFRQ if it does not detect any intendedcandidate beam RSs, (e.g. CSI-RS identified by special scramblingsequence). In such cases, if the UE incorrectly determines that the BFRprocedure is activated, it will not receive a candidate beam RS, andthen determine that the BFR procedure was not activated and use theexisting BPL for communications in the next communications cycle.

In other cases, the base station may transmit an explicit indication ofwhether the BFR procedure is activated in current cycle. For example, inan initial downlink transmission of the current cycle, the base stationmay indicate BFR activation and a reason (e.g., one or more bits thatindicate uplink traffic not received, or NACK received). The UE, uponreceiving the explicit indication, may accept the activation in aninitial uplink transmission, and the BFR procedure may continue. Forexample, the base station may indicate a reason for BFR activation isthat an acknowledgment was not received in last cycle, even though theUE transmitted an acknowledgment in the last cycle, and thus the basestation incorrectly determines that BFR is to be configured because theUE did not receive a downlink transmission. In such cases, the UE maydecline the activation with corresponding reason (e.g., it the basestation reason indicates downlink ACK was not received in last cycle,the UE may declines with a reason that downlink transmissions were sentsuccessfully in last cycle). If activation is declined, both sides willassume BFR is not activated in current cycle, and use the existing BPL.

In further cases, the UE may indicate communication results of aprevious cycle. For example, in an initial uplink transmission, the UEmay indicates previous communication results and potentially requeston-demand BFR activation. The UE, in such cases may provide anindication of a reason (e.g., downlink ACK was not sent in the lastcycle, but the base station may incorrectly receive both DL ACK and ULtraffic in last cycle). Based on the initial uplink transmission thatindicates the NACK of the last cycle, the base station may activate theBFR procedure and both the UE and base station may perform the BFRprocedure.

In still further cases, the UE, base station, or both may transmit a ‘notraffic’ indication in a transmission occasion in the event that nocommunications are present for transmission. In such cases, an explicitindication of no traffic may be provided and thus the receiving devicemay recognize that no traffic is present and will not incorrectlydetermine that a transmission has not been received due to acommunications failure. In some cases, the no traffic indication may bea low rate physical or bit sequence that indicates an absence of data tobe transmitted. In other cases, the no traffic indicator may beimplicitly determined when there is an absence of a transmission at all.The no traffic indicator may be sent during, before, or after thecorresponding transmission occasion (e.g., in a desired uplink/downlinkinitial transmission occasion). When a no traffic indication istransmitted, the sending and receiving device may assume ACK isreceived/sent for the corresponding “no traffic” transmission, whendetermining BFR activation.

In other cases, the base station or UE may poll the other device in theabsence of feedback of successful reception of a transmission. In suchcases, after sending a packet but not detecting a correspondingACK/NACK, the base station or UE may poll the other device to see if anACK/NACK has been sent for the corresponding packet. In some case, thepacket may be identified by a dedicated sequence number (e.g., a PDCPsequence number) or corresponding time/frequency resource allocation(e.g., in indication of a frame/slot index used for the transmission).The packet may carry traffic or control information (e.g., a MAC-CE). Insome cases, the polling may be transmitted using a different BPL or TRP.The report in response to the polling can indicate whether and when theearliest ACK/NACK indication was sent and the result. In some cases, ifthe transmitted packet contains control information (e.g., a MAC-CE) andthe polled report indicates ACK was sent, the corresponding MAC-CEactivation time may be based on the timing at which the earliest ACK wassent.

In some cases, a base station or UE may determine that a receivedtransmission is a retransmission of a prior transmission. Further, incases where an ACK was transmitted responsive to the prior transmission,the receiving device may indicate in a responsive communication that theACK/NACK feedback was transmitted, and may provide a correspondingtransmission index. In some cases, where the prior transmission includeda MAC-CE and the response indicates ACK was sent, the MAC-CE activationtime may be based on the timing at which the earliest ACK was sent.

In some other cases, reliability of communications may be enhancedthrough multiple transmissions on two or more beams. In such cases, abase station may transmit a downlink packet with a certain beam sweeppattern. The base station may, for example, provide an indication that adownlink transmission will use the beam sweep pattern, and then transmitall or a portion of the downlink transmission using each of the two ormore beams indicated in the beam sweep pattern. In such cases, the UEmay transmit a responsive uplink transmission using the same beam sweeppattern (e.g., using transmit beams that are QCLed with the two or morebeams used in the downlink transmission). Further, the uplinktransmission using the beam sweep pattern may not be separatelyexplicitly indicated for the uplink transmission. The downlinktransmission in such cases may include PDCCH or PDSCH transmissions, orboth, and the uplink transmission may include PUCCH or PUSCHtransmissions, or both.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a BFR configuration 400 that supportsbeam failure recovery techniques in accordance with one or more aspectsof the present disclosure. In some examples, BFR configuration 400 mayimplement aspects of wireless communications systems 100, 200, and/orBFR configuration 300. Aspects of BFR configuration 400 may beimplemented by a first TRP, second TRP, and/or UE, which may be examplesof corresponding devices described herein. BFR configuration 400 mayinclude a previous communication period/cycle 405, a currentcommunication period/cycle 410, and a next communication period/cycle415. BFR configuration 400 illustrates the example situation where thecommunication failure recovery procedure is successful, and optionallyincludes a TRP acknowledging receipt of the BFRQ. In this example,communications may be performed using a first TRP/BPL that undergoes theBFR procedure, and communications may be performed using a secondTRP/BPL while the BFR procedure is being performed at the first TRP/BPL.

For example, the base station and first TRP may be performing wirelesscommunications via first BPL during the previous communicationperiod/cycle 405. In some cases, in the previous cycle, the second TRPand second BPL may be preconfigured for use in the event of a BFRprocedure of the first BPL. In some aspects, the wireless communicationsmay be interrupted due to a communication failure detected or otherwisedetermined by the first TRP and UE. Accordingly, the first TRP and theUE may transition the resource from the first state to the second statesuch that the resource is active for a communication failure recoveryprocedure. The communication failure recovery procedure may beimplemented or otherwise performed during the current communicationperiod/cycle 410.

That is, the communication failure recovery procedure may include thefirst TRP transmitting one or more BFR candidate beam RSs in a downlinktransmission 420 using the resources transitioned to the second state.The UE may monitor for the BFR candidate beam RSs to identify apreferred candidate beam (e.g., the best candidate beam or the top Ncandidate beams, with N being a positive integer value of 2 or more).The UE may transmit the BFRQ in an uplink transmission 425 using theresource transitioned to the second state. In some aspects, the BFRQ maycarry or convey an indication identifying a best candidate beam of theUE.

The first TRP may receive the BFRQ from the UE and identify the bestcandidate beam. In some examples, the first TRP may optionally respondto the BFRQ by transmitting an ACK 430 to the UE that confirms receiptof the BFRQ. In some aspects, the ACK 430 may carry or convey anindication confirming the identity of the best candidate beam, mayexplicitly identify the best candidate beam from the BFRQ and/or may becommunicated using a beam corresponding to the best candidate beam. Insome aspects, the ACK 430 may be transmitted using the resourcetransitioned to the second state. Accordingly, the first TRP and the UEmay select the best candidate beam as the new beam to use for wirelesscommunications during the next communication period/cycle 415.

In this example, during the BFR procedure in the current communicationperiod/cycle 410, the UE and the second TRP may exchange communications.In this example, the second TRP may transmit downlink transmission 435(e.g., a PUCCH or PUSCH transmission). The UE may transmit a responsiveuplink transmission 440 to the second TRP using the second BPL, whichmay in this example be acknowledged by ACK transmission 445 of thesecond TRP. Following the BFR procedure, the UE and second TRP mayrelease resources of the second BPL and the second TRP. In some cases,the first TRP and the second TRP may be associated with a same basestation. In some cases, during the BFR procedure, the UE and first TRPmay also convey traffic on the prior first BPL to provide diversity.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a process flow 500 that supports beamfailure recovery techniques in accordance with one or more aspects ofthe present disclosure. In some examples, process flow 500 may implementaspects of wireless communications systems 100, 200, and/or BFRconfigurations 300 or 400. Aspects of process flow 500 may beimplemented by UE 505 and/or base station 510, which may be examples ofcorresponding devices described herein. In some aspects, UE 505, basestation 510, and/or TRP may be considered a wireless device in thecontext of the present disclosure.

At 515, the base station 510 may configure periodic and on-demand BFRresources. In some cases, both periodic and on-demand BFR resources maybe configured and a priority rule use in cases where both periodic andon-demand BFR occur in a same communications period. At 520, the basestation 510 may transmit configuration information to the UE 505. Insome cases, the configuration information may be transmitted in RRCsignaling that indicates common downlink reference signal resources andUE-specific uplink resources for BFRQ.

At 525, the UE 505 may configure the BFR resources. In some case, the UE505 may configure both periodic and on-demand BFR resources. In somecases, the on-demand BFR resources may be in a first state where theresource is active for wireless communication and is inactive for acommunication failure recovery procedure. At 530, the UE 505 and basestation 510 may transmit uplink and downlink communications. Suchcommunications may be via a first BPL, for example.

At 535, UE 505 may determine that a communication failure has occurredduring a first communication period. In some aspects, this may includedetermining that an initial transmission and/or retransmission is nottransmitted to base station 510 during the first communication period.In some aspects, the initial transmission and/or retransmission mayinclude a downlink ACK transmission and/or an uplink packettransmission.

At 540, base station 510 may determine that a communication failure hasoccurred during a first communication period. In some aspects, this mayinclude determining that an initial transmission and/or retransmissionis not received from UE 505 during the first communication period. Insome aspects, the initial transmission and/or retransmission may includea downlink ACK transmission and/or an uplink packet transmission.

At 545, the UE 505 and base station 510 may confirm the failure. In somecases, the failure may be confirmed through a redundant initiation of anACK/NACK transmission. In some cases, the confirmation may be based onreference signal transmissions that are transmitted by the base stationas part of a BFR procedure. In some cases, an explicit indication of afailure may be provided, and confirmed.

At 550, UE 505 may identify BFR resources for the BFR procedure. In somecases, the BFR resources may be determined based on a priority rule foron-demand BFR and periodic BFR. At 555, the base station may identifyBFR resources for the BFR procedure. In some cases, the BFR resourcesmay be determined based on a priority rule for on-demand BFR andperiodic BFR.

At 560, the UE 505 and base station 510 may perform the BFR procedure toidentify an updated BPL for continuing communications. In some aspects,this may include base station 510 transmitting (and UE 505 receiving)one or more BFR candidate beam RSs using the resource transitioned tothe second state. In some aspects, this may include UE 505 transmitting(and base station 510 receiving) a beam failure recovery request signal(e.g., BFRQ) identifying a preferred candidate beam associated with atleast one of the one or more BFR candidate beam RSs. In some aspects, UE505 and base station 510 may perform wireless communications during athird communication period using the best candidate beam identified inthe beam failure recovery request signal. In some aspects, this mayinclude base station 510 determining that the beam failure recoveryrequest signal was not received from UE 505 during the secondcommunication period. Accordingly, base station 510 may perform wirelesscommunications with UE 505 during a third communication period using thesame beam as was used during the first communication period. At 565, theUE 505 and base station 510 may communicate using the updated BPL.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a process flow 600 that supports beamfailure recovery techniques in accordance with one or more aspects ofthe present disclosure. In some examples, process flow 600 may implementaspects of wireless communications systems 100, 200, and/or BFRconfigurations 300 or 400. Aspects of process flow 600 may beimplemented by UE 610, a first TRP 605, and a second TRP 615, which maybe examples of corresponding devices described herein. In some aspects,UE and/or TRPs may be considered a wireless device in the context of thepresent disclosure.

At 620, the first TRP 605 may configure periodic and on-demand BFRresources. In some cases, both periodic and on-demand BFR resources maybe configured and a priority rule use in cases where both periodic andon-demand BFR occur in a same communications period. At 625, the firstTRP 605 may transmit configuration information to the UE 610. In somecases, the configuration information may be transmitted in RRC signalingthat indicates common downlink reference signal resources andUE-specific uplink resources for BFRQ.

At 630, the UE 610 may configure the BFR resources. In some case, the UE610 may configure both periodic and on-demand BFR resources. In somecases, the on-demand BFR resources may be in a first state where theresource is active for wireless communication and is inactive for acommunication failure recovery procedure.

At 635, the first TRP 605, the UE 610, and the second TRP 615 maypre-configure a second BPL at the second TRP 615. In some cases, theconfiguration of the second BPL may be a pre-configuration of asecondary BPL for use in the event of a communications failure. In somecases, the configuration of the second BPL may be a periodicconfiguration. In some cases, the configuration of the second BPL may betriggered by a measurement report associated with the first BPL, ortriggered based on periodic historical communications failures (e.g.,based on equipment movement in an IIoT deployment).

At 640, the first TRP 605 may determine that a communication failure hasoccurred during a first communication period. In some aspects, this mayinclude determining that an initial transmission and/or retransmissionis not transmitted to UE 610 during the first communication period. Insome aspects, the initial transmission and/or retransmission may includea downlink ACK transmission and/or an uplink packet transmission.

At 645, the UE 610 may determine that a communication failure hasoccurred during a first communication period. In some aspects, this mayinclude determining that an initial transmission and/or retransmissionis not received from first TRP 605 during the first communicationperiod. In some aspects, the initial transmission and/or retransmissionmay include a downlink ACK transmission and/or an uplink packettransmission. In some cases, a confirmation of the communication failuremay be performed in accordance with various techniques discussed herein.

At 650, the UE 610 and the second TRP 615 may communicate using thesecond BPL that was preconfigured. In such cases, the UE 610 may beprovided with uninterrupted communications, or a relatively smallinterruption in communications.

At 655, the first TRP 605 and UE 610 may perform the BFR procedure toidentify an updated first BPL for continuing communications. In someaspects, this may include first TRP 605 transmitting (and UE 610receiving) one or more BFR candidate beam RSs using the resourcetransitioned to the second state. In some aspects, this may include UE610 transmitting (and first TRP 605 receiving) a beam failure recoveryrequest signal (e.g., BFRQ) identifying a preferred candidate beamassociated with at least one of the one or more BFR candidate beam RSs.At 660, the UE 610 and first TRP 605 may communicate using the updatedBPL. At 665, the first TRP 605, UE 610, and second TRP 615 may releasethe resources of the second TRP associated with the second BPL.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram 700 of a device 705 that supports beamfailure recovery techniques in accordance with one or more aspects ofthe present disclosure. The device 705 may be an example of aspects of aUE 115 or base station 105 as described herein. The device 705 mayinclude a receiver 710, a communications manager 715, and a transmitter720. The device 705 may also include a processor. Each of thesecomponents may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one ormore buses).

Receiver 710 may receive information such as packets, user data, orcontrol information associated with various information channels (e.g.,control channels, data channels, and information related to beam failurerecovery techniques, etc.). Information may be passed on to othercomponents of the device 705. The receiver 710 may be an example ofaspects of the transceiver 1020 or 1120 as described with reference toFIGS. 10 and 11 . The receiver 710 may utilize a single antenna or a setof antennas.

The communications manager 715 may configure a wireless resource for abeam failure recovery procedure, where the wireless resource isconfigured to have a first state where the wireless resource is activefor data communications and is inactive for the beam failure recoveryprocedure, and to have a second state where the wireless resource isinactive for data communications and is active for the beam failurerecovery procedure, determine that a communication failure has occurredduring a first communication period, transition, during a secondcommunication period and based on the communication failure, thewireless resource from the first state to the second state, and performthe beam failure recovery procedure using the wireless resourcetransitioned to the second state.

The communications manager 715 may also identify a first wirelessresource for an on-demand beam failure recovery procedure and periodicwireless resources that are configured for use in other beam failurerecovery procedures, determine that a second communication periodincludes the periodic wireless resources, determine that a communicationfailure has occurred during a first communication period, select one ofthe first wireless resource or the periodic wireless resources forperforming the on-demand beam failure recovery procedure based on thecommunication failure and the second communication period including theperiodic wireless resources, and perform the on-demand beam failurerecovery procedure using the selected wireless resources.

The communications manager 715 may also determine that an uplinkcommunication has an uplink payload that is at or below a thresholdpayload size, where uplink communications having a payload size abovethe threshold payload size are to have a CRC appended to the uplinkpayload and uplink communications having a payload size at or below thethreshold payload size are to be transmitted without a CRC appended tothe uplink payload, configure uplink communications to includeacknowledgment feedback to include the CRC appended to the uplinkpayload irrespective of the uplink payload size, and process an uplinkcommunication based on the uplink communication including theacknowledgment feedback and the CRC.

The communications manager 715 may also configure a wireless resourcefor a beam failure recovery procedure, determine, based on a failure toreceive an acknowledgment feedback for communications in a firstcommunication period, an initial failure state for the firstcommunication period, confirm, based on a redundant indication of theacknowledgment feedback, a communication failure for the firstcommunication period, and perform the beam failure recovery procedureusing the wireless resource.

The communications manager 715 may also identify a wireless resource fora beam failure recovery procedure, where a determination to initiate thebeam failure recovery procedure is based on an acknowledgment feedbackfor communications in a first communication period, determine that thefirst communication period has an absence of data to be transmitted,transmit an indication that the first communication period has anabsence of data to be transmitted, and assume, for purposes ofinitiating the beam failure recovery procedure, that the acknowledgmentfeedback associated with the first communication period indicatessuccessful communications.

The communications manager 715 may also establish a wireless connectionvia a first beam pair link with a second wireless device, receive anindication from the second wireless device that a first transmission ina first communications period is transmitted according to a first beamsweep pattern that uses one or more beams, receive the firsttransmission from the second wireless device in the first communicationsperiod according to the first beam sweep pattern, and transmit aresponsive transmission to the second wireless device based on the firsttransmission, where the responsive transmission is transmitted in thefirst communications period using a second beam sweep pattern thatcorresponds to the first beam sweep pattern.

The communications manager 715 may also establish a wireless connectionvia a first beam pair link with a second wireless device, initiate,based on a communications failure with the second wireless device duringa first communications period, a beam failure recovery procedure duringa second communications period, establish, based on the beam failurerecovery procedure, an updated first beam pair link, resumecommunications, subsequent to the second communications period, usingthe updated first beam pair link, and communicate with the secondwireless device using a second beam pair link during the secondcommunications period. The communications manager 715 may be an exampleof aspects of the communications manager 1010 or 1110 as describedherein.

The communications manager 715, or its sub-components, may beimplemented in hardware, code (e.g., software or firmware) executed by aprocessor, or any combination thereof. If implemented in code executedby a processor, the functions of the communications manager 715, or itssub-components may be executed by a general-purpose processor, a DSP, anapplication-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a FPGA or otherprogrammable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discretehardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform thefunctions described in the present disclosure.

The communications manager 715, or its sub-components, may be physicallylocated at various positions, including being distributed such thatportions of functions are implemented at different physical locations byone or more physical components. In some examples, the communicationsmanager 715, or its sub-components, may be a separate and distinctcomponent in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.In some examples, the communications manager 715, or its sub-components,may be combined with one or more other hardware components, includingbut not limited to an input/output (I/O) component, a transceiver, anetwork server, another computing device, one or more other componentsdescribed in the present disclosure, or a combination thereof inaccordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

Transmitter 720 may transmit signals generated by other components ofthe device 705. In some examples, the transmitter 720 may be collocatedwith a receiver 710 in a transceiver module. For example, thetransmitter 720 may be an example of aspects of the transceiver 1020 or1120 as described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11 . The transmitter720 may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram 800 of a device 805 that supports beamfailure recovery techniques in accordance with one or more aspects ofthe present disclosure. The device 805 may be an example of aspects of adevice 705, a UE 115, or a base station 105 as described herein. Thedevice 805 may include a receiver 810, a communications manager 815, anda transmitter 850. The device 805 may also include a processor. Each ofthese components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via oneor more buses).

Receiver 810 may receive information such as packets, user data, orcontrol information associated with various information channels (e.g.,control channels, data channels, and information related to beam failurerecovery techniques, etc.). Information may be passed on to othercomponents of the device 805. The receiver 810 may be an example ofaspects of the transceiver 1020 or 1120 as described with reference toFIGS. 10 and 11 . The receiver 810 may utilize a single antenna or a setof antennas.

The communications manager 815 may be an example of aspects of thecommunications manager 715 as described herein. The communicationsmanager 815 may include a resource manager 820, a communication failuremanager 825, a resource transition manager 830, a communication failurerecovery manager 835, a resource selection manager 840, and a CRCmanager 845. The communications manager 815 may be an example of aspectsof the communications manager 1010 or 1110 as described herein.

In some cases, the resource manager 820 may configure a wirelessresource for a beam failure recovery procedure, where the wirelessresource is configured to have a first state where the wireless resourceis active for data communications and is inactive for the beam failurerecovery procedure, and to have a second state where the wirelessresource is inactive for data communications and is active for the beamfailure recovery procedure. The communication failure manager 825 maydetermine that a communication failure has occurred during a firstcommunication period. The resource transition manager 830 maytransition, during a second communication period and based on thecommunication failure, the wireless resource from the first state to thesecond state. The communication failure recovery manager 835 may performthe beam failure recovery procedure using the wireless resourcetransitioned to the second state.

In some cases, the resource manager 820 may identify a first wirelessresource for an on-demand beam failure recovery procedure and periodicwireless resources that are configured for use in other beam failurerecovery procedures and determine that a second communication periodincludes the periodic wireless resources. The communication failuremanager 825 may determine that a communication failure has occurredduring a first communication period. The resource selection manager 840may select one of the first wireless resource or the periodic wirelessresources for performing the on-demand beam failure recovery procedurebased on the communication failure and the second communication periodincluding the periodic wireless resources. The communication failurerecovery manager 835 may perform the on-demand beam failure recoveryprocedure using the selected wireless resources.

In some cases, the resource manager 820 may determine that an uplinkcommunication has an uplink payload that is at or below a thresholdpayload size, where uplink communications having a payload size abovethe threshold payload size are to have a CRC appended to the uplinkpayload and uplink communications having a payload size at or below thethreshold payload size are to be transmitted without a CRC appended tothe uplink payload. The CRC manager 845 may configure uplinkcommunications to include acknowledgment feedback to include the CRCappended to the uplink payload irrespective of the uplink payload sizeand process an uplink communication based on the uplink communicationincluding the acknowledgment feedback and the CRC.

In some cases, the resource manager 820 may configure a wirelessresource for a beam failure recovery procedure. The communicationfailure manager 825 may determine, based on a failure to receive anacknowledgment feedback for communications in a first communicationperiod, an initial failure state for the first communication period andconfirm, based on a redundant indication of the acknowledgment feedback,a communication failure for the first communication period. Thecommunication failure recovery manager 835 may perform the beam failurerecovery procedure using the wireless resource.

In some cases, the resource manager 820 may identify a wireless resourcefor a beam failure recovery procedure, where a determination to initiatethe beam failure recovery procedure is based on an acknowledgmentfeedback for communications in a first communication period. Theresource selection manager 840 may determine that the firstcommunication period has an absence of data to be transmitted andtransmit an indication that the first communication period has anabsence of data to be transmitted. The communication failure manager 825may assume, for purposes of initiating the beam failure recoveryprocedure, that the acknowledgment feedback associated with the firstcommunication period indicates successful communications.

In some cases, the resource manager 820 may establish a wirelessconnection via a first beam pair link with a second wireless device. Theresource selection manager 840 may receive an indication from the secondwireless device that a first transmission in a first communicationsperiod is transmitted according to a first beam sweep pattern that usesone or more beams, receive the first transmission from the secondwireless device in the first communications period according to thefirst beam sweep pattern, and transmit a responsive transmission to thesecond wireless device based on the first transmission, where theresponsive transmission is transmitted in the first communicationsperiod using a second beam sweep pattern that corresponds to the firstbeam sweep pattern.

In some cases, the resource manager 820 may establish a wirelessconnection via a first beam pair link with a second wireless device. Thecommunication failure recovery manager 835 may initiate, based on acommunications failure with the second wireless device during a firstcommunications period, a beam failure recovery procedure during a secondcommunications period, establish, based on the beam failure recoveryprocedure, an updated first beam pair link, and resume communications,subsequent to the second communications period, using the updated firstbeam pair link. The resource selection manager 840 may communicate withthe second wireless device using a second beam pair link during thesecond communications period.

Transmitter 850 may transmit signals generated by other components ofthe device 805. In some examples, the transmitter 850 may be collocatedwith a receiver 810 in a transceiver module. For example, thetransmitter 850 may be an example of aspects of the transceiver 1020 or1120 as described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11 . The transmitter850 may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram 900 of a communications manager 905 thatsupports beam failure recovery techniques in accordance with one or moreaspects of the present disclosure. The communications manager 905 may bean example of aspects of a communications manager 715, a communicationsmanager 815, or a communications manager 1010 described herein. Thecommunications manager 905 may include a resource manager 910, acommunication failure manager 915, a resource transition manager 920, acommunication failure recovery manager 925, a RRC manager 930, aresource selection manager 935, and a CRC manager 940. Each of thesemodules may communicate, directly or indirectly, with one another (e.g.,via one or more buses).

The resource manager 910 may configure a wireless resource for a beamfailure recovery procedure, where the wireless resource is configured tohave a first state where the wireless resource is active for datacommunications and is inactive for the beam failure recovery procedure,and to have a second state where the wireless resource is inactive fordata communications and is active for the beam failure recoveryprocedure.

In some examples, the resource manager 910 may identify a first wirelessresource for an on-demand beam failure recovery procedure and periodicwireless resources that are configured for use in other beam failurerecovery procedures. In some examples, the resource manager 910 maydetermine that a second communication period includes the periodicwireless resources. In some examples, the resource manager 910 mayidentify that the periodic wireless resources have priority over thefirst wireless resource in the second communication period.

In some examples, the resource manager 910 may determine that an uplinkcommunication has an uplink payload that is at or below a thresholdpayload size, where uplink communications having a payload size abovethe threshold payload size are to have a CRC appended to the uplinkpayload and uplink communications having a payload size at or below thethreshold payload size are to be transmitted without a CRC appended tothe uplink payload.

In some examples, the resource manager 910 may configure a wirelessresource for a beam failure recovery procedure. In some examples, theresource manager 910 may identify a wireless resource for a beam failurerecovery procedure, where a determination to initiate the beam failurerecovery procedure is based on an acknowledgment feedback forcommunications in a first communication period. In some examples, theresource manager 910 may establish a wireless connection via a firstbeam pair link with a second wireless device.

In some cases, the wireless resource includes a first downlink resourcefor transmission of one or more reference signals using one or morebeams by a first transmission-reception point, and a first uplinkresource for transmission of a beam failure request by a UE. In somecases, the first downlink resource is a common resource for transmissionof the one or more reference signals to a set of UEs, and the firstuplink resource is a UE-specific resource configured separately for eachof the set of UEs. In some cases, the first uplink resource includes oneor more of physical uplink control channel resources, physical randomaccess channel resources, or combinations thereof. In some cases, thefirst uplink resource includes one or more of UE-specific timeresources, frequency resources, spatial resources, code-domainresources, or combinations thereof.

The communication failure manager 915 may determine that a communicationfailure has occurred during a first communication period. In someexamples, the communication failure manager 915 may determine, based ona failure to receive an acknowledgment feedback for communications in afirst communication period, an initial failure state for the firstcommunication period. In some examples, the communication failuremanager 915 may confirm, based on a redundant indication of theacknowledgment feedback, a communication failure for the firstcommunication period.

In some examples, the communication failure manager 915 may assume, forpurposes of initiating the beam failure recovery procedure, that theacknowledgment feedback associated with the first communication periodindicates successful communications.

In some examples, the communication failure manager 915 may monitor adownlink portion of the wireless resource for one or more referencesignal transmissions via one or more candidate beams to be selected bythe UE. In some examples, the communication failure manager 915 maydetermine that the one or more reference signal transmissions arepresent on the downlink portion of the wireless resource. In someexamples, the communication failure manager 915 may select a firstcandidate beam based on measurements of the one or more reference signaltransmissions.

In some examples, the communication failure manager 915 may transmit abeam failure request on an uplink portion of the wireless resource thatindicates the first candidate beam. In some examples, the communicationfailure manager 915 may determine, for a subsequent communicationperiod, the initial failure state for the subsequent communicationperiod.

In some examples, the communication failure manager 915 may monitor thedownlink portion of the wireless resource associated with the subsequentcommunication period for the one or more reference signal transmissions.In some examples, the communication failure manager 915 may determinethat the one or more reference signal transmissions are absent on thedownlink portion of the wireless resource associated with the subsequentcommunication period. In some examples, the communication failuremanager 915 may discontinue the beam failure recovery procedure based onthe determining the absence of the one or more reference signaltransmissions on the downlink portion of the wireless resourceassociated with the subsequent communication period.

In some examples, the communication failure manager 915 may transmit, ina downlink transmission to a UE, an indication that the beam failurerecovery procedure is activated. In some examples, the communicationfailure manager 915 may receive, from the UE, a response to theindication that the beam failure recovery procedure is activated.

In some examples, the communication failure manager 915 may receive, ina downlink transmission from a base station, an indication that the beamfailure recovery procedure is activated. In some examples, thecommunication failure manager 915 may transmit, to the base station, aresponse to the indication that the beam failure recovery procedure isactivated. In some examples, the communication failure manager 915 maytransmit, to a base station, a request to activate the beam failurerecovery procedure, where the request indicates that a prior downlinktransmission from the base station was unsuccessfully received at theUE. In some examples, the communication failure manager 915 may receive,from a UE, a request to activate the beam failure recovery procedure,where the request indicates that a prior downlink transmission from thebase station was unsuccessfully received at the UE.

In some examples, the communication failure manager 915 may poll a basestation that was to receive an uplink communication from the UE during aprior communications period to determine whether the acknowledgmentfeedback was transmitted by the base station.

In some examples, the communication failure manager 915 may receive aresponse from the base station that indicates whether the acknowledgmentfeedback was transmitted by the base station. In some examples, thecommunication failure manager 915 may continue or discontinue the beamfailure recovery procedure based on the response from the base station.

In some examples, the communication failure manager 915 may poll a UEthat was to receive a downlink communication from the base stationduring a prior communications period to determine whether theacknowledgment feedback was transmitted by the UE. In some examples, thecommunication failure manager 915 may receive a response from the UEthat indicates whether the acknowledgment feedback was transmitted bythe UE. In some examples, the communication failure manager 915 maycontinue or discontinue the beam failure recovery procedure based on theresponse from the UE.

In some examples, the communication failure manager 915 may determinethat a packet transmitted during the first communication period is aretransmission of a prior transmission of the packet, and that prioracknowledgment feedback was previously transmitted for the packet. Insome examples, the communication failure manager 915 may transmit anindication of the prior acknowledgment feedback. In some cases, the oneor more reference signal transmissions are identified based on ascrambling sequence used to scramble the one or more reference signaltransmissions.

In some cases, the response from the UE indicates an acceptance of thebeam failure recovery procedure being activated, and where the basestation performs the beam failure recovery procedure based on theacceptance.

In some cases, the response from the UE indicates that the UE declinesthe activation of the beam failure recovery procedure and indicatessuccessful communications during the first communication period, andwhere the base station discontinues the beam failure recovery procedurebased on the response from the UE. In some cases, the response to thebase station indicates an acceptance of the beam failure recoveryprocedure being activated, and where the UE performs the beam failurerecovery procedure based on the acceptance. In some cases, the responseto the base station indicates that the UE declines the activation of thebeam failure recovery procedure and indicates successful communicationsduring the first communication period, and where the UE discontinues thebeam failure recovery procedure based on the response to the basestation. In some cases, the uplink communication from the UE during theprior communications period is identified based on a sequence number ofthe uplink communication, an index of a resource allocation of theuplink communication, or any combinations thereof.

In some cases, the polling is transmitted in uplink communications thatcarries uplink control information or data traffic. In some cases, thepolling transmitted using a different beam or a different TRP than usedfor an original transmission of the uplink communication.

In some cases, the response from the base station indicates that theacknowledgment feedback was previously transmitted, and indicates a timeof an initial transmission of the acknowledgment feedback. In somecases, the uplink communication included an activation indication, andwhere an activation time is determined based on the time of the initialtransmission of the acknowledgment feedback.

In some cases, the downlink communication from the base station duringthe prior communications period is identified based on a sequence numberof the downlink communication, an index of a resource allocation of thedownlink communication, or any combinations thereof. In some cases, thepolling is transmitted in downlink communications that carries downlinkcontrol information or data traffic.

In some cases, the polling transmitted using a different beam or adifferent TRP than used for an original transmission of the downlinkcommunication. In some cases, the response from the UE indicates thatthe acknowledgment feedback was previously transmitted, and indicates atime of an initial transmission of the acknowledgment feedback. In somecases, the downlink communication included an activation indication, andwhere an activation time is determined based on the time of the initialtransmission of the acknowledgment feedback. In some cases, the priortransmission of the packet included an activation indication, and wherean activation time is determined based on a transmission time of theprior acknowledgment feedback.

The resource transition manager 920 may transition, during a secondcommunication period and based on the communication failure, thewireless resource from the first state to the second state.

The communication failure recovery manager 925 may perform the beamfailure recovery procedure using the wireless resource transitioned tothe second state. In some examples, the communication failure recoverymanager 925 may perform the on-demand beam failure recovery procedureusing the selected wireless resources. In some examples, thecommunication failure recovery manager 925 may initiate, based on acommunications failure with the second wireless device during a firstcommunications period, a beam failure recovery procedure during a secondcommunications period.

In some examples, the communication failure recovery manager 925 mayestablish, based on the beam failure recovery procedure, an updatedfirst beam pair link. In some examples, the communication failurerecovery manager 925 may resume communications, subsequent to the secondcommunications period, using the updated first beam pair link.

The resource selection manager 935 may select one of the first wirelessresource or the periodic wireless resources for performing the on-demandbeam failure recovery procedure based on the communication failure andthe second communication period including the periodic wirelessresources.

In some examples, the resource selection manager 935 may determine thatthe first communication period has an absence of data to be transmitted.In some examples, the resource selection manager 935 may transmit anindication that the first communication period has an absence of data tobe transmitted.

In some examples, the resource selection manager 935 may receive anindication from the second wireless device that a first transmission ina first communications period is transmitted according to a first beamsweep pattern that uses one or more beams. In some examples, theresource selection manager 935 may receive the first transmission fromthe second wireless device in the first communications period accordingto the first beam sweep pattern. In some examples, the resourceselection manager 935 may transmit a responsive transmission to thesecond wireless device based on the first transmission, where theresponsive transmission is transmitted in the first communicationsperiod using a second beam sweep pattern that corresponds to the firstbeam sweep pattern.

In some examples, the resource selection manager 935 may communicatewith the second wireless device using a second beam pair link during thesecond communications period.

In some examples, the resource selection manager 935 may select theperiodic wireless resources for performing the on-demand beam failurerecovery procedure.

In some examples, the resource selection manager 935 may determine thatcommunications during the first communication period are low latencycommunications. In some examples, the resource selection manager 935 mayselect the first wireless resource for performing the on-demand beamfailure recovery procedure based on the communications during the firstcommunication period being low latency communications. In some examples,the resource selection manager 935 may select the periodic wirelessresources for performing the on-demand beam failure recovery procedurebased on a timing of the periodic wireless resources being within a timethreshold of the first wireless resource.

In some examples, the resource selection manager 935 may transmitredundant communications to the second wireless device using the firstbeam pair link during the second communications period.

In some examples, the resource selection manager 935 may releaseresources associated with the second beam pair link responsive toestablishing the updated first beam pair link.

In some cases, the priority of the first wireless resource and theperiodic wireless resources is based on a latency target ofcommunications during the first communication period.

In some cases, the indication that the first communication period hasthe absence of data to be transmitted is a physical or bit sequence. Insome cases, the indication that the first communication period has theabsence of data to be transmitted is a lack of any transmission in thefirst communication period. In some cases, the indication that the firstcommunication period has the absence of data to be transmitted isprovided before, during, or after the first communication period. Insome cases, the first transmission is a downlink transmission thatincludes downlink shared channel information, downlink control channelinformation, or combinations thereof.

In some cases, the responsive transmission is an uplink transmissionthat includes uplink shared channel information, uplink control channelinformation, or combinations thereof. In some cases, the first beamsweep pattern includes a set of downlink beams, and the second beamsweep pattern includes a set of uplink beams having reciprocal beams tothe set of downlink beams. In some cases, the second beam pair link usesa different TRP than the first beam pair link, and where the differentTRP and the second beam pair link are preconfigured prior to the firstcommunications period.

The CRC manager 940 may configure uplink communications to includeacknowledgment feedback to include the CRC appended to the uplinkpayload irrespective of the uplink payload size. In some examples, theCRC manager 940 may process an uplink communication based on the uplinkcommunication including the acknowledgment feedback and the CRC. In someexamples, the CRC manager 940 may format the acknowledgment feedback fortransmission with uplink shared channel data, and where theacknowledgment feedback and the uplink shared channel data share a sameCRC.

In some examples, the CRC manager 940 may configure the acknowledgmentfeedback to exceed the threshold payload size. In some examples, the CRCmanager 940 may provide a dynamic indication that the acknowledgmentfeedback is to include the CRC irrespective of the uplink payload size.

In some cases, the acknowledgment feedback is transmitted in a MACcontrol element with the uplink shared channel data. In some cases, theacknowledgment feedback is a one-bit indication of receipt of motioncontrol data, and is transmitted with the uplink shared channel data. Insome cases, the acknowledgment feedback is padded with one or more bitsto have a payload size that exceeds the threshold payload size. In somecases, the acknowledgment feedback is encoded to have a larger payloadsize than the threshold payload size. In some cases, the acknowledgmentfeedback is repeated one or more times to provide a payload size thatexceeds the threshold payload size.

The RRC manager 930 may exchange RRC messages that indicate the wirelessresource that is configured for the beam failure recovery procedure.

FIG. 10 shows a diagram of a system 1000 including a device 1005 thatsupports beam failure recovery techniques in accordance with one or moreaspects of the present disclosure. The device 1005 may be an example ofor include the components of device 705, device 805, or a UE 115 asdescribed herein. The device 1005 may include components forbi-directional voice and data communications including components fortransmitting and receiving communications, including a communicationsmanager 1010, a transceiver 1020, an antenna 1025, memory 1030, aprocessor 1040, and an I/O controller 1050. These components may be inelectronic communication via one or more buses (e.g., bus 1055).

The communications manager 1010 may configure a wireless resource for abeam failure recovery procedure, where the wireless resource isconfigured to have a first state where the wireless resource is activefor data communications and is inactive for the beam failure recoveryprocedure, and to have a second state where the wireless resource isinactive for data communications and is active for the beam failurerecovery procedure, determine that a communication failure has occurredduring a first communication period, transition, during a secondcommunication period and based on the communication failure, thewireless resource from the first state to the second state, and performthe beam failure recovery procedure using the wireless resourcetransitioned to the second state.

The communications manager 1010 may also identify a first wirelessresource for an on-demand beam failure recovery procedure and periodicwireless resources that are configured for use in other beam failurerecovery procedures, determine that a second communication periodincludes the periodic wireless resources, determine that a communicationfailure has occurred during a first communication period, select one ofthe first wireless resource or the periodic wireless resources forperforming the on-demand beam failure recovery procedure based on thecommunication failure and the second communication period including theperiodic wireless resources, and perform the on-demand beam failurerecovery procedure using the selected wireless resources.

The communications manager 1010 may also determine that an uplinkcommunication has an uplink payload that is at or below a thresholdpayload size, where uplink communications having a payload size abovethe threshold payload size are to have a CRC appended to the uplinkpayload and uplink communications having a payload size at or below thethreshold payload size are to be transmitted without a CRC appended tothe uplink payload, configure uplink communications to includeacknowledgment feedback to include the CRC appended to the uplinkpayload irrespective of the uplink payload size, and process an uplinkcommunication based on the uplink communication including theacknowledgment feedback and the CRC.

The communications manager 1010 may also configure a wireless resourcefor a beam failure recovery procedure, determine, based on a failure toreceive an acknowledgment feedback for communications in a firstcommunication period, an initial failure state for the firstcommunication period, confirm, based on a redundant indication of theacknowledgment feedback, a communication failure for the firstcommunication period, and perform the beam failure recovery procedureusing the wireless resource.

The communications manager 1010 may also identify a wireless resourcefor a beam failure recovery procedure, where a determination to initiatethe beam failure recovery procedure is based on an acknowledgmentfeedback for communications in a first communication period, determinethat the first communication period has an absence of data to betransmitted, transmit an indication that the first communication periodhas an absence of data to be transmitted, and assume, for purposes ofinitiating the beam failure recovery procedure, that the acknowledgmentfeedback associated with the first communication period indicatessuccessful communications.

The communications manager 1010 may also establish a wireless connectionvia a first beam pair link with a second wireless device, receive anindication from the second wireless device that a first transmission ina first communications period is transmitted according to a first beamsweep pattern that uses one or more beams, receive the firsttransmission from the second wireless device in the first communicationsperiod according to the first beam sweep pattern, and transmit aresponsive transmission to the second wireless device based on the firsttransmission, where the responsive transmission is transmitted in thefirst communications period using a second beam sweep pattern thatcorresponds to the first beam sweep pattern.

The communications manager 1010 may also establish a wireless connectionvia a first beam pair link with a second wireless device, initiate,based on a communications failure with the second wireless device duringa first communications period, a beam failure recovery procedure duringa second communications period, establish, based on the beam failurerecovery procedure, an updated first beam pair link, resumecommunications, subsequent to the second communications period, usingthe updated first beam pair link, and communicate with the secondwireless device using a second beam pair link during the secondcommunications period.

Transceiver 1020 may communicate bi-directionally, via one or moreantennas, wired, or wireless links as described herein. For example, thetransceiver 1020 may represent a wireless transceiver and maycommunicate bi-directionally with another wireless transceiver. Thetransceiver 1020 may also include a modem to modulate the packets andprovide the modulated packets to the antennas for transmission, and todemodulate packets received from the antennas.

In some cases, the wireless device may include a single antenna 1025.However, in some cases the device may have more than one antenna 1025,which may be capable of concurrently transmitting or receiving multiplewireless transmissions.

The memory 1030 may include RAM, ROM, or a combination thereof. Thememory 1030 may store computer-readable code 1035 including instructionsthat, when executed by a processor (e.g., the processor 1040) cause thedevice to perform various functions described herein. In some cases, thememory 1030 may contain, among other things, a BIOS which may controlbasic hardware or software operation such as the interaction withperipheral components or devices.

The processor 1040 may include an intelligent hardware device, (e.g., ageneral-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, anFPGA, a programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logiccomponent, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof).In some cases, the processor 1040 may be configured to operate a memoryarray using a memory controller. In other cases, a memory controller maybe integrated into the processor 1040. The processor 1040 may beconfigured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory(e.g., the memory 1030) to cause the device 1005 to perform variousfunctions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting beam failure recoverytechniques).

The I/O controller 1050 may manage input and output signals for thedevice 1005. The I/O controller 1050 may also manage peripherals notintegrated into the device 1005. In some cases, the I/O controller 1050may represent a physical connection or port to an external peripheral.In some cases, the I/O controller 1050 may utilize an operating systemsuch as iOS®, ANDROID@, MS-DOS®, MS-WINDOWS®, OS/2®, UNIX®, LINUX®, oranother known operating system. In other cases, the I/O controller 1050may represent or interact with a modem, a keyboard, a mouse, atouchscreen, or a similar device. In some cases, the I/O controller 1050may be implemented as part of a processor. In some cases, a user mayinteract with the device 1005 via the I/O controller 1050 or viahardware components controlled by the I/O controller 1050.

The code 1035 may include instructions to implement aspects of thepresent disclosure, including instructions to support wirelesscommunications. The code 1035 may be stored in a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium such as system memory or other type of memory.In some cases, the code 1035 may not be directly executable by theprocessor 1040 but may cause a computer (e.g., when compiled andexecuted) to perform functions described herein.

FIG. 11 shows a diagram of a system 1100 including a device 1105 thatsupports beam failure recovery techniques in accordance with one or moreaspects of the present disclosure. The device 1105 may be an example ofor include the components of device 705, device 805, or a base station105 as described herein. The device 1105 may include components forbi-directional voice and data communications including components fortransmitting and receiving communications, including a communicationsmanager 1110, a network communications manager 1115, a transceiver 1120,an antenna 1125, memory 1130, a processor 1140, and an inter-stationcommunications manager 1145. These components may be in electroniccommunication via one or more buses (e.g., bus 1155).

The communications manager 1110 may configure a wireless resource for abeam failure recovery procedure, where the wireless resource isconfigured to have a first state where the wireless resource is activefor data communications and is inactive for the beam failure recoveryprocedure, and to have a second state where the wireless resource isinactive for data communications and is active for the beam failurerecovery procedure, determine that a communication failure has occurredduring a first communication period, transition, during a secondcommunication period and based on the communication failure, thewireless resource from the first state to the second state, and performthe beam failure recovery procedure using the wireless resourcetransitioned to the second state.

The communications manager 1110 may also identify a first wirelessresource for an on-demand beam failure recovery procedure and periodicwireless resources that are configured for use in other beam failurerecovery procedures, determine that a second communication periodincludes the periodic wireless resources, determine that a communicationfailure has occurred during a first communication period, select one ofthe first wireless resource or the periodic wireless resources forperforming the on-demand beam failure recovery procedure based on thecommunication failure and the second communication period including theperiodic wireless resources, and perform the on-demand beam failurerecovery procedure using the selected wireless resources.

The communications manager 1110 may also determine that an uplinkcommunication has an uplink payload that is at or below a thresholdpayload size, where uplink communications having a payload size abovethe threshold payload size are to have a CRC appended to the uplinkpayload and uplink communications having a payload size at or below thethreshold payload size are to be transmitted without a CRC appended tothe uplink payload, configure uplink communications to includeacknowledgment feedback to include the CRC appended to the uplinkpayload irrespective of the uplink payload size, and process an uplinkcommunication based on the uplink communication including theacknowledgment feedback and the CRC.

The communications manager 1110 may also configure a wireless resourcefor a beam failure recovery procedure, determine, based on a failure toreceive an acknowledgment feedback for communications in a firstcommunication period, an initial failure state for the firstcommunication period, confirm, based on a redundant indication of theacknowledgment feedback, a communication failure for the firstcommunication period, and perform the beam failure recovery procedureusing the wireless resource.

The communications manager 1110 may also identify a wireless resourcefor a beam failure recovery procedure, where a determination to initiatethe beam failure recovery procedure is based on an acknowledgmentfeedback for communications in a first communication period, determinethat the first communication period has an absence of data to betransmitted, transmit an indication that the first communication periodhas an absence of data to be transmitted, and assume, for purposes ofinitiating the beam failure recovery procedure, that the acknowledgmentfeedback associated with the first communication period indicatessuccessful communications.

The communications manager 1110 may also establish a wireless connectionvia a first beam pair link with a second wireless device, receive anindication from the second wireless device that a first transmission ina first communications period is transmitted according to a first beamsweep pattern that uses one or more beams, receive the firsttransmission from the second wireless device in the first communicationsperiod according to the first beam sweep pattern, and transmit aresponsive transmission to the second wireless device based on the firsttransmission, where the responsive transmission is transmitted in thefirst communications period using a second beam sweep pattern thatcorresponds to the first beam sweep pattern.

The communications manager 1110 may also establish a wireless connectionvia a first beam pair link with a second wireless device, initiate,based on a communications failure with the second wireless device duringa first communications period, a beam failure recovery procedure duringa second communications period, establish, based on the beam failurerecovery procedure, an updated first beam pair link, resumecommunications, subsequent to the second communications period, usingthe updated first beam pair link, and communicate with the secondwireless device using a second beam pair link during the secondcommunications period.

Network communications manager 1115 may manage communications with thecore network (e.g., via one or more wired backhaul links). For example,the network communications manager 1115 may manage the transfer of datacommunications for client devices, such as one or more UEs 115.

Transceiver 1120 may communicate bi-directionally, via one or moreantennas, wired, or wireless links as described herein. For example, thetransceiver 1120 may represent a wireless transceiver and maycommunicate bi-directionally with another wireless transceiver. Thetransceiver 1120 may also include a modem to modulate the packets andprovide the modulated packets to the antennas for transmission, and todemodulate packets received from the antennas.

In some cases, the wireless device may include a single antenna 1125.However, in some cases the device may have more than one antenna 1125,which may be capable of concurrently transmitting or receiving multiplewireless transmissions.

The memory 1130 may include RAM, ROM, or a combination thereof. Thememory 1130 may store computer-readable code 1135 including instructionsthat, when executed by a processor (e.g., the processor 1140) cause thedevice to perform various functions described herein. In some cases, thememory 1130 may contain, among other things, a BIOS which may controlbasic hardware or software operation such as the interaction withperipheral components or devices.

The processor 1140 may include an intelligent hardware device, (e.g., ageneral-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, anFPGA, a programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logiccomponent, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof).In some cases, the processor 1140 may be configured to operate a memoryarray using a memory controller. In other cases, a memory controller maybe integrated into the processor 1140. The processor 1140 may beconfigured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory(e.g., the memory 1130) to cause the device 1105 to perform variousfunctions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting beam failure recoverytechniques).

Inter-station communications manager 1145 may manage communications withother base station 105, and may include a controller or scheduler forcontrolling communications with UEs 115 in cooperation with other basestations 105. For example, the inter-station communications manager 1145may coordinate scheduling for transmissions to UEs 115 for variousinterference mitigation techniques such as beamforming or jointtransmission. In some examples, inter-station communications manager1145 may provide an X2 interface within an LTE/LTE-A wirelesscommunication network technology to provide communication between basestations 105.

The code 1135 may include instructions to implement aspects of thepresent disclosure, including instructions to support wirelesscommunications. The code 1135 may be stored in a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium such as system memory or other type of memory.In some cases, the code 1135 may not be directly executable by theprocessor 1140 but may cause a computer (e.g., when compiled andexecuted) to perform functions described herein.

FIG. 12 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1200 that supports beamfailure recovery techniques in accordance with one or more aspects ofthe present disclosure. The operations of method 1200 may be implementedby a UE 115 or base station 105 or its components as described herein.For example, the operations of method 1200 may be performed by acommunications manager as described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11. In some examples, a UE or base station may execute a set ofinstructions to control the functional elements of the UE or basestation to perform the functions described below. Additionally oralternatively, a UE or base station may perform aspects of the functionsdescribed below using special-purpose hardware.

At 1205, the UE or base station may configure a wireless resource for abeam failure recovery procedure, where the wireless resource isconfigured to have a first state where the wireless resource is activefor data communications and is inactive for the beam failure recoveryprocedure, and to have a second state where the wireless resource isinactive for data communications and is active for the beam failurerecovery procedure. The operations of 1205 may be performed according tothe methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of theoperations of 1205 may be performed by a resource manager as describedwith reference to FIGS. 7 through 11 .

At 1210, the UE or base station may determine that a communicationfailure has occurred during a first communication period. The operationsof 1210 may be performed according to the methods described herein. Insome examples, aspects of the operations of 1210 may be performed by acommunication failure manager as described with reference to FIGS. 7through 11 .

At 1215, the UE or base station may transition, during a secondcommunication period and based on the communication failure, thewireless resource from the first state to the second state. Theoperations of 1215 may be performed according to the methods describedherein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1215 may beperformed by a resource transition manager as described with referenceto FIGS. 7 through 11 .

At 1220, the UE or base station may perform the beam failure recoveryprocedure using the wireless resource transitioned to the second state.The operations of 1220 may be performed according to the methodsdescribed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1220may be performed by a communication failure recovery manager asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11 .

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1300 that supports beamfailure recovery techniques in accordance with one or more aspects ofthe present disclosure. The operations of method 1300 may be implementedby a UE 115 or base station 105 or its components as described herein.For example, the operations of method 1300 may be performed by acommunications manager as described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11. In some examples, a UE or base station may execute a set ofinstructions to control the functional elements of the UE or basestation to perform the functions described below. Additionally oralternatively, a UE or base station may perform aspects of the functionsdescribed below using special-purpose hardware.

At 1305, the UE or base station may identify a first wireless resourcefor an on-demand beam failure recovery procedure and periodic wirelessresources that are configured for use in other beam failure recoveryprocedures. The operations of 1305 may be performed according to themethods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1305 may be performed by a resource manager as described with referenceto FIGS. 7 through 11 .

At 1310, the UE or base station may determine that a communicationfailure has occurred during a first communication period. The operationsof 1310 may be performed according to the methods described herein. Insome examples, aspects of the operations of 1310 may be performed by acommunication failure manager as described with reference to FIGS. 7through 11 .

At 1315, the UE or base station may determine that a secondcommunication period includes the periodic wireless resources. Theoperations of 1315 may be performed according to the methods describedherein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1315 may beperformed by a resource manager as described with reference to FIGS. 7through 11 .

At 1320, the UE or base station may select one of the first wirelessresource or the periodic wireless resources for performing the on-demandbeam failure recovery procedure based on the communication failure andthe second communication period including the periodic wirelessresources. The operations of 1320 may be performed according to themethods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1320 may be performed by a resource selection manager as described withreference to FIGS. 7 through 11 .

At 1325, the UE or base station may perform the on-demand beam failurerecovery procedure using the selected wireless resources. The operationsof 1325 may be performed according to the methods described herein. Insome examples, aspects of the operations of 1325 may be performed by acommunication failure recovery manager as described with reference toFIGS. 7 through 11 .

FIG. 14 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1400 that supports beamfailure recovery techniques in accordance with one or more aspects ofthe present disclosure. The operations of method 1400 may be implementedby a UE 115 or base station 105 or its components as described herein.For example, the operations of method 1400 may be performed by acommunications manager as described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11. In some examples, a UE or base station may execute a set ofinstructions to control the functional elements of the UE or basestation to perform the functions described below. Additionally oralternatively, a UE or base station may perform aspects of the functionsdescribed below using special-purpose hardware.

At 1405, the UE or base station may determine that an uplinkcommunication has an uplink payload that is at or below a thresholdpayload size, where uplink communications having a payload size abovethe threshold payload size are to have a CRC appended to the uplinkpayload and uplink communications having a payload size at or below thethreshold payload size are to be transmitted without a CRC appended tothe uplink payload. The operations of 1405 may be performed according tothe methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of theoperations of 1405 may be performed by a resource manager as describedwith reference to FIGS. 7 through 11 .

At 1410, the UE or base station may configure uplink communications toinclude acknowledgment feedback to include the CRC appended to theuplink payload irrespective of the uplink payload size. The operationsof 1410 may be performed according to the methods described herein. Insome examples, aspects of the operations of 1410 may be performed by aCRC manager as described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11 .

At 1415, the UE or base station may process an uplink communicationbased on the uplink communication including the acknowledgment feedbackand the CRC. The operations of 1415 may be performed according to themethods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1415 may be performed by a CRC manager as described with reference toFIGS. 7 through 11 .

FIG. 15 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1500 that supports beamfailure recovery techniques in accordance with one or more aspects ofthe present disclosure. The operations of method 1500 may be implementedby a UE 115 or base station 105 or its components as described herein.For example, the operations of method 1500 may be performed by acommunications manager as described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11. In some examples, a UE or base station may execute a set ofinstructions to control the functional elements of the UE or basestation to perform the functions described below. Additionally oralternatively, a UE or base station may perform aspects of the functionsdescribed below using special-purpose hardware.

At 1505, the UE or base station may configure a wireless resource for abeam failure recovery procedure. The operations of 1505 may be performedaccording to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects ofthe operations of 1505 may be performed by a resource manager asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11 .

At 1510, the UE or base station may determine, based on a failure toreceive an acknowledgment feedback for communications in a firstcommunication period, an initial failure state for the firstcommunication period. The operations of 1510 may be performed accordingto the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of theoperations of 1510 may be performed by a communication failure manageras described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11 .

At 1515, the UE or base station may confirm, based on a redundantindication of the acknowledgment feedback, a communication failure forthe first communication period. The operations of 1515 may be performedaccording to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects ofthe operations of 1515 may be performed by a communication failuremanager as described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11 .

At 1520, the UE or base station may perform the beam failure recoveryprocedure using the wireless resource. The operations of 1520 may beperformed according to the methods described herein. In some examples,aspects of the operations of 1520 may be performed by a communicationfailure recovery manager as described with reference to FIGS. 7 through11 .

FIG. 16 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1600 that supports beamfailure recovery techniques in accordance with one or more aspects ofthe present disclosure. The operations of method 1600 may be implementedby a UE 115 or base station 105 or its components as described herein.For example, the operations of method 1600 may be performed by acommunications manager as described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11. In some examples, a UE or base station may execute a set ofinstructions to control the functional elements of the UE or basestation to perform the functions described below. Additionally oralternatively, a UE or base station may perform aspects of the functionsdescribed below using special-purpose hardware.

At 1605, the UE or base station may identify a wireless resource for abeam failure recovery procedure, where a determination to initiate thebeam failure recovery procedure is based on an acknowledgment feedbackfor communications in a first communication period. The operations of1605 may be performed according to the methods described herein. In someexamples, aspects of the operations of 1605 may be performed by aresource manager as described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11 .

At 1610, the UE or base station may determine that the firstcommunication period has an absence of data to be transmitted. Theoperations of 1610 may be performed according to the methods describedherein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1610 may beperformed by a resource selection manager as described with reference toFIGS. 7 through 11 .

At 1615, the UE or base station may transmit an indication that thefirst communication period has an absence of data to be transmitted. Theoperations of 1615 may be performed according to the methods describedherein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1615 may beperformed by a resource selection manager as described with reference toFIGS. 7 through 11 .

At 1620, the UE or base station may assume, for purposes of initiatingthe beam failure recovery procedure, that the acknowledgment feedbackassociated with the first communication period indicates successfulcommunications. The operations of 1620 may be performed according to themethods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1620 may be performed by a communication failure manager as describedwith reference to FIGS. 7 through 11 .

FIG. 17 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1700 that supports beamfailure recovery techniques in accordance with one or more aspects ofthe present disclosure. The operations of method 1700 may be implementedby a UE 115 or base station 105 or its components as described herein.For example, the operations of method 1700 may be performed by acommunications manager as described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11. In some examples, a UE or base station may execute a set ofinstructions to control the functional elements of the UE or basestation to perform the functions described below. Additionally oralternatively, a UE or base station may perform aspects of the functionsdescribed below using special-purpose hardware.

At 1705, the UE or base station may establish a wireless connection viaa first beam pair link with a second wireless device. The operations of1705 may be performed according to the methods described herein. In someexamples, aspects of the operations of 1705 may be performed by aresource manager as described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11 .

At 1710, the UE or base station may receive an indication from thesecond wireless device that a first transmission in a firstcommunications period is transmitted according to a first beam sweeppattern that uses one or more beams. The operations of 1710 may beperformed according to the methods described herein. In some examples,aspects of the operations of 1710 may be performed by a resourceselection manager as described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11 .

At 1715, the UE or base station may receive the first transmission fromthe second wireless device in the first communications period accordingto the first beam sweep pattern. The operations of 1715 may be performedaccording to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects ofthe operations of 1715 may be performed by a resource selection manageras described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11 .

At 1720, the UE or base station may transmit a responsive transmissionto the second wireless device based on the first transmission, where theresponsive transmission is transmitted in the first communicationsperiod using a second beam sweep pattern that corresponds to the firstbeam sweep pattern. The operations of 1720 may be performed according tothe methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of theoperations of 1720 may be performed by a resource selection manager asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11 .

FIG. 18 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1800 that supports beamfailure recovery techniques in accordance with one or more aspects ofthe present disclosure. The operations of method 1800 may be implementedby a UE 115 or base station 105 or its components as described herein.For example, the operations of method 1800 may be performed by acommunications manager as described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11. In some examples, a UE or base station may execute a set ofinstructions to control the functional elements of the UE or basestation to perform the functions described below. Additionally oralternatively, a UE or base station may perform aspects of the functionsdescribed below using special-purpose hardware.

At 1805, the UE or base station may establish a wireless connection viaa first beam pair link with a second wireless device. The operations of1805 may be performed according to the methods described herein. In someexamples, aspects of the operations of 1805 may be performed by aresource manager as described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11 .

At 1810, the UE or base station may initiate, based on a communicationsfailure with the second wireless device during a first communicationsperiod, a beam failure recovery procedure during a second communicationsperiod. The operations of 1810 may be performed according to the methodsdescribed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1810may be performed by a communication failure recovery manager asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11 .

At 1815, the UE or base station may communicate with the second wirelessdevice using a second beam pair link during the second communicationsperiod. The operations of 1815 may be performed according to the methodsdescribed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1815may be performed by a resource selection manager as described withreference to FIGS. 7 through 11 .

At 1820, the UE or base station may establish, based on the beam failurerecovery procedure, an updated first beam pair link. The operations of1820 may be performed according to the methods described herein. In someexamples, aspects of the operations of 1820 may be performed by acommunication failure recovery manager as described with reference toFIGS. 7 through 11 .

At 1825, the UE or base station may resume communications, subsequent tothe second communications period, using the updated first beam pairlink. The operations of 1825 may be performed according to the methodsdescribed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1825may be performed by a communication failure recovery manager asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11 .

It should be noted that the methods described herein describe possibleimplementations, and that the operations may be rearranged or otherwisemodified and that other implementations are possible. Further, aspectsfrom two or more of the methods may be combined.

The following provides an overview of examples of the presentdisclosure:

Example 1: A method for wireless communication at a first wirelessdevice, comprising: establishing a wireless connection via a first beampair link with a second wireless device; initiating, based at least inpart on a communications failure with the second wireless device duringa first communications period, a beam failure recovery procedure duringa second communications period; communicating with the second wirelessdevice using a second beam pair link during the second communicationsperiod; establishing, based at least in part on the beam failurerecovery procedure, an updated first beam pair link; and resumingcommunications, subsequent to the second communications period, usingthe updated first beam pair link.

Example 2: The method of example 1, wherein the second beam pair linkuses a different TRP than the first beam pair link, and/or wherein thedifferent TRP and the second beam pair link are preconfigured prior tothe first communications period.

Example 3: The method of examples 1 or 2, further comprising:transmitting redundant communications to the second wireless deviceusing the first beam pair link during the second communications period.

Example 4: The method of any one of examples 1 through 3, furthercomprising: releasing resources associated with the second beam pairlink responsive to establishing the updated first beam pair link.

Example 5: A method for wireless communication at a wireless device,comprising: identifying a first wireless resource for an on-demand beamfailure recovery procedure and periodic wireless resources that areconfigured for use in other beam failure recovery procedures;determining that a communication failure has occurred during a firstcommunication period; determining that a second communication periodincludes the periodic wireless resources; selecting one of the firstwireless resource or the periodic wireless resources for performing theon-demand beam failure recovery procedure based at least in part on thecommunication failure and the second communication period including theperiodic wireless resources; and performing the on-demand beam failurerecovery procedure using the selected wireless resources.

Example 6: The method of example 5, wherein the selecting comprises:identifying that the periodic wireless resources have priority over thefirst wireless resource in the second communication period; andselecting the periodic wireless resources for performing the on-demandbeam failure recovery procedure.

Example 7: The method of example 5 or 6, wherein the priority of thefirst wireless resource and the periodic wireless resources is based atleast in part on a latency target of communications during the firstcommunication period.

Example 8: The method of examples 5 or 7, wherein the selectingcomprises: determining that communications during the firstcommunication period are low latency communications; and selecting thefirst wireless resource for performing the on-demand beam failurerecovery procedure based at least in part on the communications duringthe first communication period being low latency communications.

Example 9: The method of any one of examples 5 through 7, wherein theselecting comprises: selecting the periodic wireless resources forperforming the on-demand beam failure recovery procedure based at leastin part on a timing of the periodic wireless resources being within atime threshold of the first wireless resource.

Example 10: A method for wireless communication at a wireless device,comprising: configuring a wireless resource for a beam failure recoveryprocedure; determining, based at least in part on a failure to receivean acknowledgment feedback for communications in a first communicationperiod, an initial failure state for the first communication period;confirming, based at least in part on a redundant indication of theacknowledgment feedback, a communication failure for the firstcommunication period; and performing the beam failure recovery procedureusing the wireless resource.

Example 11: The method of example 10, wherein the method is performed ata UE, and/or wherein the confirming the communication failure comprises:monitoring a downlink portion of the wireless resource for one or morereference signal transmissions via one or more candidate beams to beselected by the UE; determining that the one or more reference signaltransmissions are present on the downlink portion of the wirelessresource; selecting a first candidate beam based at least in part onmeasurements of the one or more reference signal transmissions; andtransmitting a beam failure request on an uplink portion of the wirelessresource that indicates the first candidate beam.

Example 12: The method of examples 10 or 11, wherein the one or morereference signal transmissions are identified based at least in part ona scrambling sequence used to scramble the one or more reference signaltransmissions.

Example 13: The method of any one of examples 10 through 12, furthercomprising: determining, for a subsequent communication period, theinitial failure state for the subsequent communication period;monitoring the downlink portion of the wireless resource associated withthe subsequent communication period for the one or more reference signaltransmissions; determining that the one or more reference signaltransmissions are absent on the downlink portion of the wirelessresource associated with the subsequent communication period; anddiscontinuing the beam failure recovery procedure based at least in parton the determining the absence of the one or more reference signaltransmissions on the downlink portion of the wireless resourceassociated with the subsequent communication period.

Example 14: The method of example 10, wherein the method is performed bya base station, and/or wherein the confirming the communication failurecomprises: transmitting, in a downlink transmission to a UE, anindication that the beam failure recovery procedure is activated; andreceiving, from the UE, a response to the indication that the beamfailure recovery procedure is activated.

Example 15: The method of examples 10 or 14, wherein the response fromthe UE indicates an acceptance of the beam failure recovery procedurebeing activated, and/or wherein the base station performs the beamfailure recovery procedure based at least in part on the acceptance.

Example 16: The method of examples 10, 14 or 15, wherein the responsefrom the UE indicates that the UE declines the activation of the beamfailure recovery procedure and indicates successful communicationsduring the first communication period, and/or wherein the base stationdiscontinues the beam failure recovery procedure based at least in parton the response from the UE.

Example 17: The method of any one of examples 10 through 13, wherein themethod is performed by a UE, and/or wherein the confirming thecommunication failure comprises: receiving, in a downlink transmissionfrom a base station, an indication that the beam failure recoveryprocedure is activated; and transmitting, to the base station, aresponse to the indication that the beam failure recovery procedure isactivated.

Example 18: The method of any one of examples 10 through 13 or 17,wherein the response to the base station indicates an acceptance of thebeam failure recovery procedure being activated, and/or wherein the UEperforms the beam failure recovery procedure based at least in part onthe acceptance.

Example 19: The method of any one of examples 10 through 13, 17 or 18,wherein the method is performed by a UE, and/or wherein the confirmingthe communication failure comprises: transmitting, to a base station, arequest to activate the beam failure recovery procedure, wherein therequest indicates that a prior downlink transmission from the basestation was unsuccessfully received at the UE.

Example 20: The method of any one of examples 10 or 14 through 16,wherein the method is performed by a base station, and/or wherein theconfirming the communication failure comprises: receiving, from a UE, arequest to activate the beam failure recovery procedure, wherein therequest indicates that a prior downlink transmission from the basestation was unsuccessfully received at the UE.

Example 21: The method of any one of examples 10 through 13 or 17through 19, wherein the method is performed by a UE, and/or wherein theconfirming the communication failure comprises: polling a base stationthat was to receive an uplink communication from the UE during a priorcommunications period to determine whether the acknowledgment feedbackwas transmitted by the base station; receiving a response from the basestation that indicates whether the acknowledgment feedback wastransmitted by the base station; and continuing or discontinuing thebeam failure recovery procedure based at least in part on the responsefrom the base station.

Example 22: The method of any one of examples 10 through 13, 17 through19, and 21, wherein the uplink communication from the UE during theprior communications period is identified based at least in part on asequence number of the uplink communication, an index of a resourceallocation of the uplink communication, or any combinations thereof;wherein the polling is transmitted in uplink communications that carriesuplink control information or data traffic; wherein the pollingtransmitted using a different beam or a different TRP than used for anoriginal transmission of the uplink communication; wherein the responsefrom the base station indicates that the acknowledgment feedback waspreviously transmitted, and indicates a time of an initial transmissionof the acknowledgment feedback; or wherein the uplink communicationincluded an activation indication, and/or wherein an activation time isdetermined based on the time of the initial transmission of theacknowledgment feedback.

Example 23: The method of any one of examples 10, 14 through 16, or 20,wherein the method is performed by a base station, and/or wherein theconfirming the communication failure comprises: polling a UE that was toreceive a downlink communication from the base station during a priorcommunications period to determine whether the acknowledgment feedbackwas transmitted by the UE; receiving a response from the UE thatindicates whether the acknowledgment feedback was transmitted by the UE;and continuing or discontinuing the beam failure recovery procedurebased at least in part on the response from the UE.

Example 24: The method of any one of examples 10, 14 through 16, 20, or23, wherein the downlink communication from the base station during theprior communications period is identified based at least in part on asequence number of the downlink communication, an index of a resourceallocation of the downlink communication, or any combinations thereof;wherein the polling is transmitted in downlink communications thatcarries downlink control information or data traffic; wherein thepolling transmitted using a different beam or a different TRP than usedfor an original transmission of the downlink communication wherein theresponse from the UE indicates that the acknowledgment feedback waspreviously transmitted, and indicates a time of an initial transmissionof the acknowledgment feedback; wherein the downlink communicationincluded an activation indication; or wherein an activation time isdetermined based on the time of the initial transmission of theacknowledgment feedback.

Example 25: The method of any one of examples 10 through 24, wherein theconfirming the communication failure comprises: determining that apacket transmitted during the first communication period is aretransmission of a prior transmission of the packet, and that prioracknowledgment feedback was previously transmitted for the packet; andtransmitting an indication of the prior acknowledgment feedback.

Example 26: The method of any one of examples 10 through 25, wherein theprior transmission of the packet included an activation indication,and/or wherein an activation time is determined based on a transmissiontime of the prior acknowledgment feedback.

Example 27: A method for wireless communication at a wireless device,comprising: configuring a wireless resource for a beam failure recoveryprocedure, wherein the wireless resource is configured to have a firststate where the wireless resource is active for data communications andis inactive for the beam failure recovery procedure, and to have asecond state where the wireless resource is inactive for datacommunications and is active for the beam failure recovery procedure;determining that a communication failure has occurred during a firstcommunication period; transitioning, during a second communicationperiod and based at least in part on the communication failure, thewireless resource from the first state to the second state; andperforming the beam failure recovery procedure using the wirelessresource transitioned to the second state.

Example 28: The method of example 27, wherein the configuring comprises:exchanging RRC messages that indicate the wireless resource that isconfigured for the beam failure recovery procedure.

Example 29: The method of examples 27 or 28, wherein the wirelessresource includes a first downlink resource for transmission of one ormore reference signals using one or more beams by a first TRP, and afirst uplink resource for transmission of a beam failure request by aUE.

Example 30: The method of any one of examples 27 through 29, wherein thefirst downlink resource is a common resource for transmission of the oneor more reference signals to a plurality of UEs, and the first uplinkresource is a UE-specific resource configured separately for each of theplurality of UEs; or wherein the first uplink resource includes one ormore of physical uplink control channel resources, physical randomaccess channel resources, UE-specific time resources, frequencyresources, spatial resources, code-domain resources, or combinationsthereof.

Example 31: A method for wireless communication at a wireless device,comprising: determining that an uplink communication has an uplinkpayload that is at or below a threshold payload size, wherein uplinkcommunications having a payload size above the threshold payload sizeare to have a CRC appended to the uplink payload and uplinkcommunications having a payload size at or below the threshold payloadsize are to be transmitted without a CRC appended to the uplink payload;configuring uplink communications to include acknowledgment feedback toinclude the CRC appended to the uplink payload irrespective of theuplink payload size; and processing an uplink communication based atleast in part on the uplink communication including the acknowledgmentfeedback and the CRC.

Example 32: The method of example 31: wherein the configuring comprises:formatting the acknowledgment feedback for transmission with uplinkshared channel data, and/or wherein the acknowledgment feedback and theuplink shared channel data share a same CRC.

Example 33: The method of examples 31 or 32: wherein the acknowledgmentfeedback is transmitted in a MAC control element with the uplink sharedchannel data.

Example 34: The method of any one of examples 31 through 33: wherein theacknowledgment feedback is a one-bit indication of receipt of motioncontrol data, and is transmitted with the uplink shared channel data.

Example 35: The method of any one of examples 31 through 34: wherein theconfiguring comprises: configuring the acknowledgment feedback to exceedthe threshold payload size.

Example 36: The method of any one of examples 31 through 35: wherein theacknowledgment feedback is padded with one or more bits to have apayload size that exceeds the threshold payload size.

Example 37: The method of any one of examples 31 through 36: wherein theacknowledgment feedback is encoded to have a larger payload size thanthe threshold payload size.

Example 38: The method of any one of examples 31 through 37: wherein theacknowledgment feedback is repeated one or more times to provide apayload size that exceeds the threshold payload size.

Example 39: The method of any one of examples 31 through 38: wherein theconfiguring comprises: providing a dynamic indication that theacknowledgment feedback is to include the CRC irrespective of the uplinkpayload size.

Example 40: A method for wireless communication at a wireless device,comprising: identifying a wireless resource for a beam failure recoveryprocedure, wherein a determination to initiate the beam failure recoveryprocedure is based at least in part on an acknowledgment feedback forcommunications in a first communication period; determining that thefirst communication period has an absence of data to be transmitted;transmitting an indication that the first communication period has anabsence of data to be transmitted; and assuming, for purposes ofinitiating the beam failure recovery procedure, that the acknowledgmentfeedback associated with the first communication period indicatessuccessful communications.

Example 41: The method of example 40, wherein the indication that thefirst communication period has the absence of data to be transmitted isa physical or bit sequence.

Example 42: The method of example 40, wherein the indication that thefirst communication period has the absence of data to be transmitted isa lack of any transmission in the first communication period.

Example 43: The method of examples 40 or 41, wherein the indication thatthe first communication period has the absence of data to be transmittedis provided before, during, or after the first communication period.

Example 44: The method of any of examples 40 through 43, wherein theacknowledgement feedback is a bit sequence representing positiveacknowledgement.

Example 45: The method of any of examples 40 through 43, wherein theacknowledgement feedback is a bit sequence representing negativeacknowledgement.

Example 46: The method of any of examples 40 through 43, wherein theacknowledgement feedback is no transmission.

Example 47: A method for wireless communication at a first wirelessdevice, comprising: establishing a wireless connection via a first beampair link with a second wireless device; receiving an indication fromthe second wireless device that a first transmission in a firstcommunications period is transmitted according to a first beam sweeppattern that uses one or more beams; receiving the first transmissionfrom the second wireless device in the first communications periodaccording to the first beam sweep pattern; and transmitting a responsivetransmission to the second wireless device based at least in part on thefirst transmission, wherein the responsive transmission is transmittedin the first communications period using a second beam sweep patternthat corresponds to the first beam sweep pattern.

Example 48: The method of example 47: wherein the first transmission isa downlink transmission that includes downlink shared channelinformation, downlink control channel information, or combinationsthereof; and/or wherein the responsive transmission is an uplinktransmission that includes uplink shared channel information, uplinkcontrol channel information, or combinations thereof.

Example 49: The method of examples 47 or 48: wherein the second beamsweep pattern is not explicitly indicated by the second wireless device.

Example 50: The method of any one of examples 47 through 49: wherein thefirst beam sweep pattern includes a set of downlink beams, and thesecond beam sweep pattern includes a set of uplink beams havingreciprocal beams to the set of downlink beams.

Example 51: An apparatus for wireless communication comprising aprocessor, memory coupled with the processor, the processor and memoryconfigured to perform a method of any one of examples 1 through 4.

Example 52: An apparatus for wireless communication comprising aprocessor, memory coupled with the processor, the processor and memoryconfigured to perform a method of any one of examples 5 through 9.

Example 53: An apparatus for wireless communication comprising aprocessor, memory coupled with the processor, the processor and memoryconfigured to perform a method of any one of examples 10 through 26.

Example 54: An apparatus for wireless communication comprising aprocessor, memory coupled with the processor, the processor and memoryconfigured to perform a method of any one of examples 27 through 30.

Example 55: An apparatus for wireless communication comprising aprocessor, memory coupled with the processor, the processor and memoryconfigured to perform a method of any one of examples 31 through 39.

Example 56: An apparatus for wireless communication comprising aprocessor, memory coupled with the processor, the processor and memoryconfigured to perform a method of any one of examples 40 through 46.

Example 57: An apparatus for wireless communication comprising aprocessor, memory coupled with the processor, the processor and memoryconfigured to perform a method of any one of examples 47 through 49.

Example 58: An apparatus for wireless communication comprising at leastone means for performing a method of any one of examples 1 through 4.

Example 59: An apparatus for wireless communication comprising at leastone means for performing a method of any one of examples 5 through 9.

Example 60: An apparatus for wireless communication comprising at leastone means for performing a method of any one of examples 10 through 26.

Example 61: An apparatus for wireless communication comprising at leastone means for performing a method of any one of examples 27 through 30.

Example 62: An apparatus for wireless communication comprising at leastone means for performing a method of any one of examples 31 through 39.

Example 63: An apparatus for wireless communication comprising at leastone means for performing a method of any one of examples 40 through 46.

Example 64: An apparatus for wireless communication comprising at leastone means for performing a method of any one of examples 47 through 49.

Example 65: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code forwireless communication comprising a processor, memory coupled with theprocessor, and instructions stored in the memory and executable by theprocessor to cause the apparatus to perform a method of any one ofexamples 1 through 4.

Example 66: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code forwireless communication comprising a processor, memory coupled with theprocessor, and instructions stored in the memory and executable by theprocessor to cause the apparatus to perform a method of any one ofexamples 5 through 9.

Example 67: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code forwireless communication comprising a processor, memory coupled with theprocessor, and instructions stored in the memory and executable by theprocessor to cause the apparatus to perform a method of any one ofexamples 10 through 26.

Example 68: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code forwireless communication comprising a processor, memory coupled with theprocessor, and instructions stored in the memory and executable by theprocessor to cause the apparatus to perform a method of any one ofexamples 27 through 30.

Example 69: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code forwireless communication comprising a processor, memory coupled with theprocessor, and instructions stored in the memory and executable by theprocessor to cause the apparatus to perform a method of any one ofexamples 31 through 39.

Example 70: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code forwireless communication comprising a processor, memory coupled with theprocessor, and instructions stored in the memory and executable by theprocessor to cause the apparatus to perform a method of any one ofexamples 40 through 46.

Example 71: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code forwireless communication comprising a processor, memory coupled with theprocessor, and instructions stored in the memory and executable by theprocessor to cause the apparatus to perform a method of any one ofexamples 47 through 49.

Techniques described herein may be used for various wirelesscommunications systems such as CDMA, TDMA, FDMA, OFDMA, single carrierfrequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA), and other systems. A CDMAsystem may implement a radio technology such as CDMA2000, UniversalTerrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), etc. CDMA2000 covers IS-2000, IS-95,and IS-856 standards. IS-2000 Releases may be commonly referred to asCDMA2000 1X, 1X, etc. IS-856 (TIA-856) is commonly referred to asCDMA2000 1xEV-DO, High Rate Packet Data (HRPD), etc. UTRA includesWideband CDMA (WCDMA) and other variants of CDMA. A TDMA system mayimplement a radio technology such as Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM).

An OFDMA system may implement a radio technology such as Ultra MobileBroadband (UMB), E-UTRA, Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers (IEEE) 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20,Flash-OFDM, etc. UTRA and E-UTRA are part of Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS). LTE, LTE-A, and LTE-A Pro are releasesof UMTS that use E-UTRA. UTRA, E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR,and GSM are described in documents from the organization named “3rdGeneration Partnership Project” (3GPP). CDMA2000 and UMB are describedin documents from an organization named “3rd Generation PartnershipProject 2” (3GPP2). The techniques described herein may be used for thesystems and radio technologies mentioned herein as well as other systemsand radio technologies. While aspects of an LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NRsystem may be described for purposes of example, and LTE, LTE-A, LTE-APro, or NR terminology may be used in much of the description, thetechniques described herein are applicable beyond LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro,or NR applications.

A macro cell may cover a relatively large geographic area (e.g., severalkilometers in radius) and may allow unrestricted access by UEs withservice subscriptions with the network provider. A small cell may beassociated with a lower-powered base station, as compared with a macrocell, and a small cell may operate in the same or different (e.g.,licensed, unlicensed, etc.) frequency bands as macro cells. Small cellsmay include pico cells, femto cells, and micro cells according tovarious examples. A pico cell, for example, may cover a small geographicarea and may allow unrestricted access by UEs with service subscriptionswith the network provider. A femto cell may also cover a smallgeographic area (e.g., a home) and may provide restricted access by UEshaving an association with the femto cell (e.g., UEs in a closedsubscriber group (CSG), UEs for users in the home, and the like). An eNBfor a macro cell may be referred to as a macro eNB. An eNB for a smallcell may be referred to as a small cell eNB, a pico eNB, a femto eNB, ora home eNB. An eNB may support one or multiple (e.g., two, three, four,and the like) cells, and may also support communications using one ormultiple component carriers.

The wireless communications systems described herein may supportsynchronous or asynchronous operation. For synchronous operation, thebase stations may have similar frame timing, and transmissions fromdifferent base stations may be approximately aligned in time. Forasynchronous operation, the base stations may have different frametiming, and transmissions from different base stations may not bealigned in time. The techniques described herein may be used for eithersynchronous or asynchronous operations.

Information and signals described herein may be represented using any ofa variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data,instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chipsthat may be referenced throughout the description may be represented byvoltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles,optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

The various illustrative blocks and modules described in connection withthe disclosure herein may be implemented or performed with ageneral-purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA, or otherprogrammable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discretehardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform thefunctions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be amicroprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be anyprocessor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processormay also be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., acombination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, oneor more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any othersuch configuration).

The functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, softwareexecuted by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. Ifimplemented in software executed by a processor, the functions may bestored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. Other examples and implementations are withinthe scope of the disclosure and appended claims. For example, due to thenature of software, functions described herein can be implemented usingsoftware executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hardwiring, orcombinations of any of these. Features implementing functions may alsobe physically located at various positions, including being distributedsuch that portions of functions are implemented at different physicallocations.

Computer-readable media includes both non-transitory computer storagemedia and communication media including any medium that facilitatestransfer of a computer program from one place to another. Anon-transitory storage medium may be any available medium that can beaccessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way ofexample, and not limitation, non-transitory computer-readable media mayinclude random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electricallyerasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, compact disk (CD) ROMor other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magneticstorage devices, or any other non-transitory medium that can be used tocarry or store desired program code means in the form of instructions ordata structures and that can be accessed by a general-purpose orspecial-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purposeprocessor. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readablemedium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website,server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable,twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologiessuch as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiberoptic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such asinfrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium.Disk and disc, as used herein, include CD, laser disc, optical disc,digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray disc where disksusually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce dataoptically with lasers. Combinations of the above are also includedwithin the scope of computer-readable media.

As used herein, including in the claims, “or” as used in a list of items(e.g., a list of items prefaced by a phrase such as “at least one of” or“one or more of”) indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, alist of at least one of A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BCor ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Also, as used herein, the phrase “basedon” shall not be construed as a reference to a closed set of conditions.For example, an exemplary operation that is described as “based oncondition A” may be based on both a condition A and a condition Bwithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In otherwords, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shall be construed in thesame manner as the phrase “based at least in part on.”

In the appended figures, similar components or features may have thesame reference label. Further, various components of the same type maybe distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a secondlabel that distinguishes among the similar components. If just the firstreference label is used in the specification, the description isapplicable to any one of the similar components having the same firstreference label irrespective of the second reference label, or othersubsequent reference label.

The description set forth herein, in connection with the appendeddrawings, describes example configurations and does not represent allthe examples that may be implemented or that are within the scope of theclaims. The term “exemplary” used herein means “serving as an example,instance, or illustration,” and not “preferred” or “advantageous overother examples.” The detailed description includes specific details forthe purpose of providing an understanding of the described techniques.These techniques, however, may be practiced without these specificdetails. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shownin block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of thedescribed examples.

The description herein is provided to enable a person skilled in the artto make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to the disclosurewill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the genericprinciples defined herein may be applied to other variations withoutdeparting from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is notlimited to the examples and designs described herein, but is to beaccorded the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novelfeatures disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for wireless communications at adevice in a wireless network, comprising: one or more memories; and oneor more processors coupled with the one or more memories and configuredto cause the device to: configure a wireless resource for a beam failurerecovery procedure; determine, based at least in part on a failure toreceive an acknowledgment feedback for communications in a firstcommunication period, an initial failure state for the firstcommunication period; confirm, based at least in part on a redundantindication of the acknowledgment feedback, a communication failure forthe first communication period; and perform the beam failure recoveryprocedure over the wireless resource.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein,to confirm the communication failure, the one or more processors areconfigured to cause the device to: monitor a downlink portion of thewireless resource for one or more reference signal transmissions via oneor more candidate beams to be selected by the device; determine that theone or more reference signal transmissions are present on the downlinkportion of the wireless resource; select a first candidate beam based atleast in part on measurements of the one or more reference signaltransmissions; and transmit a beam failure request on an uplink portionof the wireless resource that indicates the first candidate beam.
 3. Thedevice of claim 2, wherein the one or more reference signaltransmissions are identified based at least in part on a scramblingsequence used to scramble the one or more reference signaltransmissions.
 4. The device of claim 2, wherein the one or moreprocessors are configured to cause the device to: determine, for asubsequent communication period, the initial failure state for thesubsequent communication period; monitor the downlink portion of thewireless resource associated with the subsequent communication periodfor the one or more reference signal transmissions; determine that theone or more reference signal transmissions are absent on the downlinkportion of the wireless resource associated with the subsequentcommunication period; and discontinue the beam failure recoveryprocedure based at least in part on an absence of the one or morereference signal transmissions on the downlink portion of the wirelessresource associated with the subsequent communication period.
 5. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein, to confirm the communication failure, theone or more processors are configured to cause the device to: transmit,in a downlink transmission to a user equipment (UE), an indication thatthe beam failure recovery procedure is activated; and receive, from theUE, a response to the indication that the beam failure recoveryprocedure is activated.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the responsefrom the UE indicates an acceptance of an activation of the beam failurerecovery procedure, and wherein the device performs the beam failurerecovery procedure based at least in part on the acceptance.
 7. Thedevice of claim 5, wherein the response from the UE indicates that theUE declines an activation of the beam failure recovery procedure andindicates successful communications during the first communicationperiod, and wherein the device discontinues the beam failure recoveryprocedure based at least in part on the response from the UE.
 8. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein, to confirm the communication failure, theone or more processors are configured to cause the device to: receive,in a downlink transmission from a base station, an indication that thebeam failure recovery procedure is activated; and transmit, to the basestation, a response to the indication that the beam failure recoveryprocedure is activated.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the responseto the base station indicates an acceptance of an activation of the beamfailure recovery procedure, and wherein the device performs the beamfailure recovery procedure based at least in part on the acceptance. 10.The device of claim 1, wherein, to confirm the communication failure,the one or more processors are configured to cause the device to:transmit, to a base station, a request to activate the beam failurerecovery procedure, wherein the request indicates that a prior downlinktransmission from the base station was unsuccessfully received at thedevice.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein, to confirm the communicationfailure, the one or more processors are configured to cause the deviceto: receive, from a user equipment (UE), a request to activate the beamfailure recovery procedure, wherein the request indicates that a priordownlink transmission from the device was unsuccessfully received at theUE.
 12. The device of claim 1, wherein, to confirm the communicationfailure, the one or more processors are configured to cause the deviceto: poll a base station that was to receive an uplink communication fromthe device during a prior communications period to determine whether theacknowledgment feedback was transmitted by the base station; receive aresponse from the base station that indicates whether the acknowledgmentfeedback was transmitted by the base station; and continue ordiscontinue the beam failure recovery procedure based at least in parton the response from the base station.
 13. The device of claim 12,wherein the uplink communication from the device during the priorcommunications period is identified based at least in part on a sequencenumber of the uplink communication, an index of a resource allocation ofthe uplink communication, or any combinations thereof.
 14. The device ofclaim 1, wherein, to confirm the communication failure, the one or moreprocessors are configured to cause the device to: poll a user equipment(UE) that was to receive a downlink communication from the device duringa prior communications period to determine whether the acknowledgmentfeedback was transmitted by the UE; receive a response from the UE thatindicates whether the acknowledgment feedback was transmitted by the UE;and continue or discontinue the beam failure recovery procedure based atleast in part on the response from the UE.
 15. The device of claim 14,wherein the downlink communication from the device during the priorcommunications period is identified based at least in part on a sequencenumber of the downlink communication, an index of a resource allocationof the downlink communication, or any combinations thereof.
 16. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein, to confirm the communication failure, theone or more processors are configured to cause the device to: determinethat a packet transmitted during the first communication period is aretransmission of a prior transmission of the packet, and that prioracknowledgment feedback was previously transmitted for the packet; andtransmit an indication of the prior acknowledgment feedback.
 17. Thedevice of claim 16, wherein the prior transmission of the packetincluded an activation indication, and wherein an activation time isdetermined based on a transmission time of the prior acknowledgmentfeedback.
 18. A method for wireless communication at a device in awireless system, comprising: configuring a wireless resource for a beamfailure recovery procedure; determining, based at least in part on afailure to receive an acknowledgment feedback for communications in afirst communication period, an initial failure state for the firstcommunication period; confirming, based at least in part on a redundantindication of the acknowledgment feedback, a communication failure forthe first communication period; and performing the beam failure recoveryprocedure using the wireless resource.
 19. The method of claim 18, themethod performed at a user equipment (UE), and the confirming thecommunication failure comprising: monitoring a downlink portion of thewireless resource for one or more reference signal transmissions via oneor more candidate beams to be selected by the UE; determining that theone or more reference signal transmissions are present on the downlinkportion of the wireless resource; selecting a first candidate beam basedat least in part on measurements of the one or more reference signaltransmissions; and transmitting a beam failure request on an uplinkportion of the wireless resource that indicates the first candidatebeam.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: determining, for asubsequent communication period, the initial failure state for thesubsequent communication period; monitoring the downlink portion of thewireless resource associated with the subsequent communication periodfor the one or more reference signal transmissions; determining that theone or more reference signal transmissions are absent on the downlinkportion of the wireless resource associated with the subsequentcommunication period; and discontinuing the beam failure recoveryprocedure based at least in part on the determining of an absence of theone or more reference signal transmissions on the downlink portion ofthe wireless resource associated with the subsequent communicationperiod.
 21. The method of claim 18, the method performed at a basestation, and the confirming the communication failure comprising:transmitting, in a downlink transmission to a user equipment (UE), anindication that the beam failure recovery procedure is activated; andreceiving, from the UE, a response to the indication that the beamfailure recovery procedure is activated.
 22. The method of claim 18, themethod performed at a user equipment (UE), and the confirming thecommunication failure comprising: receiving, in a downlink transmissionfrom a base station, an indication that the beam failure recoveryprocedure is activated; and transmitting, to the base station, aresponse to the indication that the beam failure recovery procedure isactivated.
 23. The method of claim 18, the method performed at a userequipment (UE), and the confirming the communication failure comprising:transmitting, to a base station, a request to activate the beam failurerecovery procedure, wherein the request indicates that a prior downlinktransmission from the base station was unsuccessfully received at theUE.
 24. The method of claim 18, the method performed at a base station,and the confirming the communication failure comprising: receiving, froma user equipment (UE), a request to activate the beam failure recoveryprocedure, wherein the request indicates that a prior downlinktransmission from the base station was unsuccessfully received at theUE.
 25. The method of claim 18, the method performed at a user equipment(UE), and the confirming the communication failure comprising: polling abase station that was to receive an uplink communication from the UEduring a prior communications period to determine whether theacknowledgment feedback was transmitted by the base station; receiving aresponse from the base station that indicates whether the acknowledgmentfeedback was transmitted by the base station; and continuing ordiscontinuing the beam failure recovery procedure based at least in parton the response from the base station.
 26. The method of claim 18, themethod performed at a base station, and the confirming the communicationfailure comprising: polling a user equipment (UE) that was to receive adownlink communication from the base station during a priorcommunications period to determine whether the acknowledgment feedbackwas transmitted by the UE; receiving a response from the UE thatindicates whether the acknowledgment feedback was transmitted by the UE;and continuing or discontinuing the beam failure recovery procedurebased at least in part on the response from the UE.
 27. The method ofclaim 18, the confirming the communication failure comprising:determining that a packet transmitted during the first communicationperiod is a retransmission of a prior transmission of the packet, andthat prior acknowledgment feedback was previously transmitted for thepacket; and transmitting an indication of the prior acknowledgmentfeedback.
 28. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code forwireless communication at a device in a wireless system, the codecomprising instructions executable by one or more processors to causethe device to: configure a wireless resource for a beam failure recoveryprocedure; determine, based at least in part on a failure to receive anacknowledgment feedback for communications in a first communicationperiod, an initial failure state for the first communication period;confirm, based at least in part on a redundant indication of theacknowledgment feedback, a communication failure for the firstcommunication period; and perform the beam failure recovery procedureusing the wireless resource.
 29. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 28, wherein the instructions to confirm thecommunication failure are executable by the one or more processors tocause the device to: monitor a downlink portion of the wireless resourcefor one or more reference signal transmissions via one or more candidatebeams to be selected by the device; determine that the one or morereference signal transmissions are present on the downlink portion ofthe wireless resource; select a first candidate beam based at least inpart on measurements of the one or more reference signal transmissions;and transmit a beam failure request on an uplink portion of the wirelessresource that indicates the first candidate beam.
 30. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the instructions arefurther executable by the one or more processors to cause the device to:determine, for a subsequent communication period, the initial failurestate for the subsequent communication period; monitor the downlinkportion of the wireless resource associated with the subsequentcommunication period for the one or more reference signal transmissions;determine that the one or more reference signal transmissions are absenton the downlink portion of the wireless resource associated with thesubsequent communication period; and discontinue the beam failurerecovery procedure based at least in part on the determining of anabsence of the one or more reference signal transmissions on thedownlink portion of the wireless resource associated with the subsequentcommunication period.